Randomized, controlled trial of behavior therapy for families of adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Objective: To describe the short-term results of a controlled trial of Beha vioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST) for families of adolescents with diabe tes. Methods: We randomized 119 families of adolescents with diabetes to 3 month s' treatment with either BFST, an education and support Group (ES), or curr ent therapy (CT). Family relationships, psychological adjustment to diabete s, treatment adherence and diabetic control were assessed at baseline, afte r 3 months of treatment (reported here), and 6 and 12 months later. Results: Compared with CT and ES, BFST yielded more improvement in parent-a dolescent relations and reduced diabetes-specific conflict. Effects on psyc hological adjustment to diabetes and diabetic control were less robust and depended on the adolescent's age and gender. There were no effects on treat ment adherence. Conclusions: BFST yielded some improvement in parent-adolescent relationshi ps; its effects on diabetes outcomes depended on the adolescent's age and g ender. Factors mediating the effectiveness of BFST must be clarified.