Multisystemic Therapy-Emerging Adults Trial (MST-EA)

Effectiveness Trial of Treatment to Reduce Serious Antisocial Behavior in Emerging Adults With Mental Illness

This study's purpose is to test the effectiveness of a promising intervention for emerging adults (EAs) with mental illness (MI) and serious antisocial behavior in achieving the ultimate outcome of reduced antisocial behavior, and proximal intermediate outcomes. Multisystemic Therapy-Emerging Adults (MST-EA) is an adaptation of MST, a well-established, effective intervention for antisocial behavior in adolescents.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Antisocial Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults; Behavioral: Enhanced Treatment as Usual

Detailed Description

Serious antisocial behavior, including criminal offending, is extremely costly to society. Rates of such behavior are highest during emerging adulthood. Antisocial behavior is especially high among emerging adults (EAs) with mental illness (MI); findings suggest the majority of EAs with MI will be arrested by age 25, most with multiple arrests, and for serious charges. Thus, there is a clear public health need for effective treatments to reduce serious antisocial behavior in EAs with MI. Astonishingly, there are no established interventions with evidence of efficacy to reduce serious antisocial behavior among EAs, with or without MI. Effective antisocial behavior interventions in adolescents address the comprehensive causes of that behavior. Similarly, this team has developed and completed research on a well-defined age-tailored intervention for EAs with MI and serious antisocial behavior that addresses the correlates of EA antisocial behavior, and provides MI treatment. The intervention is an adaptation of the well-established effective juvenile antisocial behavior intervention, Multisystemic Therapy (MST). MST-EA is a single source that targets the EA correlates of antisocial behavior, including gainful activity (school, work, housing, and positive relationships) and reduced substance use, in part by targeting the proximal mechanism of poor self-regulation. MST-EA also addresses these correlates through reducing MI symptoms. The investigative team has already established the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of this type of intervention in a successfully completed community-based open trial (R34MH081374-01, PI: Davis). The proposed study will rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of MST-EA for reducing serious antisocial behavior. Specifically, 240 EAs with MI and recent arrests or release from justice facilities will be randomized to receive MST-EA or Enhanced Treatment as Usual (E-TAU). Assessments will be completed at months 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16, with confirmation of outcome data using system records. The first aim will be to evaluate the effect over time of MST-EA for improving the ultimate outcome of treatment: reduced serious antisocial behavior. The second aim is to evaluate the effect of MST-EA on (a) the key proximal target of treatment (self-regulation) and (b) the proposed intermediate outcomes of treatment (gainful activity, substance use, and MI problems). The final aim will be to determine whether MST-EA's effect on the ultimate outcome is the result of its effect on the proximal target and intermediate outcomes of treatment. There is a current absence of any antisocial behavior treatments with demonstrated efficacy in this age group. The ultimate effect of the proposed research would be decreased antisocial behavior and other public health-related behaviors (MI symptoms, substance use, homelessness, unemployment) among one of the highest-risk populations of individuals with MI. With an emphasis on treatment mechanisms and the near absence of MI research focused on EAs, this innovative research has high potential to advance the field.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 193
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • Hamden, Connecticut, United States, 06518
      • North American Family Institute
    • Hartford, Connecticut, United States, 06114
      • North American Family Institute
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06510
      • North American Family Institute
  • Tennessee
    • Johnson City, Tennessee, United States, 37601
      • Youth Villages

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 26 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 16-26
• recent arrest or release from jail/prison/detention (within the past 18 months but excluding arrests for probation/parole violations)
• presence of mood, anxiety, and/or psychotic disorders
• able to reside in a stable community setting (not currently homeless, not currently inpatient; can include individual ready for discharge to the community)
• subject consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• actively psychotic, suicidal, or homicidal
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) or mental retardation
• sex offending as the primary antisocial behavior
• adults unable to consent will also be excluded from this study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Multisystemic Therapy - Emerging Adults; Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (MST-EA) is designed to help emerging adults (ages 18-21) with mental illness who have been in trouble with the law. MST-EA is a treatment program specifically for emerging adults, to increase skills and capacities that can help them reduce their antisocial behavior and help reduce problems caused by mental health illness, and alcohol or drug use when present.	Behavioral: Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults; MST-EA is a home-based therapy in which therapists work closely with each young adult. Therapists often also work with the young person's family, as appropriate. MST-EA is designed to help young people work on their own behavior. This treatment also involves the use of coaches who help young people develop skills for young adulthood.; Other Names: Multisystemic Therapy for Transition-Age Youth (MST-TAY)
Active Comparator: Enhanced Treatment as Usual; With Enhanced Treatment as Usual (E-TAU) emerging adults will get the treatments that they usually receive when they have a mental illness and have been in trouble with the law. They will receive travel vouchers for attending services, a card with an individualized list of contacts when in crisis, and facilitation with identifying need of services and accessing those services.	Behavioral: Enhanced Treatment as Usual; Standard services that a young person would receive if they have been in trouble with the law and also have a mental illness.; Other Names: E-TAU

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in number and severity of criminal charges in official records in the 16 months pre-baseline compared with the 16 months post-baseline.	Changes from the Baseline in offending, measured in the number of offenses in the Self-Report Offending Scale, during the 16 months post-baseline.	16 months pre-baseline compared with 16 months post-baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Self-efficacy (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Self-efficacy measured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Goal directness (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Goal directness measured using Wills Self Control Measures (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Responsibility taking (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Responsibility taking measured using sub-scale of the Behavioral Indicators of Conscientiousness (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Symptoms (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	The number and severity of symptoms measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Treatment Usage (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	The number of hospitalizations, Emergency Room visits and treatment usage for psychiatric reasons (Self-Report and Archival records).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Drug Screens (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	The number of positive drug screens from toxicology testing for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), synthetic THC, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepines, and cocaine.	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Substance Use and Problems(measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Frequency of substance use and substance-related problems reported on the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Antisocial Peers (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Antisocial Peer Involvement measured using the Peer Delinquency Scale (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Interpersonal Competence (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Social Conflict and social functioning measured in the Interpersonal Competence Scale (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Housing stability (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Housing stability as reported by participant and archival.	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Relationships (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Network of Relationships Inventory (Self Report).	Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline School and Work(measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).	Days in school or work measured as reported by participant and archival.	Baseline to16 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Oregon Social Learning Center; Connecticut Department of Children and Families; North American Family Institute; Court Support Services Division; Youth Villages
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Maryann Davis, PhD, University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Principal Investigator: Ashli Sheidow, PhD, Oregon Social Learning Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sheidow AJ, McCart MR, Davis M. Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults With Serious Mental Illness and Justice Involvement. Cogn Behav Pract. 2016 Aug;23(3):356-367. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2015.09.003.
• Davis M, Sheidow AJ, McCart MR. Reducing recidivism and symptoms in emerging adults with serious mental health conditions and justice system involvement. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2015 Apr;42(2):172-90. doi: 10.1007/s11414-014-9425-8. Erratum In: J Behav Health Serv Res. 2015 Apr;42(2):272.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): October 4, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Serious Mental Illness; Mental Illness; Criminal Behavior; Antisocial Behavior; Emerging Adulthood
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Personality Disorders; Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: H0009053; 1R01MH108793-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No