Behavior therapy for families of adolescents with diabetes - Maintenance of treatment effects

OBJECTIVE - This study reports 6- and 12-month follow-up for the families o f adolescents with diabetes who participated in a trial of Behavioral-Famil y Systems Therapy (BFST). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 119 families of adolescents with t ype 1 diabetes were randomized to 3 months of treatment with either BFST, a n education and support (ES) group, or current therapy (CT). Family relatio nships, adjustment to diabetes, treatment adherence, and diabetic control w ere assessed at baseline, after 3 months of treatment, and 6 and 12 months later. This report Focuses on the latter two evaluations. RESULTS - Compared with CT and ES, BFST yielded lasting improvements in par ent-adolescent relationships and diabctes-specific conflict. Delayed effect s on treatment adherence emerged at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. There were no immediate or delayed effects on adolescents' adjustment to diabetes or d iabetic control. CONCLUSIONS - BFST yielded lasting improvement in parent-adolescent relatio nships and delayed improvement in treatment adherence, but it had no effect on adjustment to diabetes or diabetic control. A variety of adaptations to BFST could enhance its impact on diabetes outcomes.