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The Effectiveness of Family Therapy for Adolescent Conduct Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Family therapy has been widely used as a treatment approach for adolescent conduct disorder (CD). This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluates the efficacy of family therapy in reducing conduct problems and improving overall functioning in adolescents with CD. Through an extensive review of the literature, the meta-analysis synthesizes effect sizes from RCTs assessing the effectiveness of family therapy compared to control conditions (e.g., waitlist, individual therapy) in targeting core symptoms of CD, including aggression, defiance, rule-breaking behavior, and family conflict. Additionally, it examines potential moderators of treatment outcomes, such as treatment duration, family involvement, therapist qualifications, and participant characteristics (e.g., age, gender), to better understand the factors influencing the effectiveness of family therapy for adolescent CD.
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