Short-term family intervention: A therapy outcome study.

Attempted to modify the destructive communication patterns of delinquent families by systematically shaping in behaviors characteristic of adaptive family systems (increased reciprocity, greater activity, and increased clarity). Based on direct observation of family interaction in a discussion task with 20 teenage delinquents and their families, results indicate a significant change in the 4 interaction measures, while 2 indexes of questionnaire agreement remained unchanged. Use of a rigorous experimental design that controlled for pretest sensitization, maturation, and nonspecific professional attention demonstrated that these changes did not occur as a function of extraneous variables. The need for rigorous process research regarding the characteristics of specific target populations coupled with equally sound outcome research that can then evaluate change within these populations is emphasized by the results. (35 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)