| Title: |
Multisystemic therapy compared with management as usual for adolescents at risk of offending: the START II RCT |
| Authors: |
Fonagy, P; Butler, S; Cottrell, D; Scott, S; Pilling, S; Eisler, I; Fuggle, P; Kraam, A; Byford, S; Wason, J; Smith, JA; Anokhina, A; Ellison, R; Simes, E; Ganguli, P; Allison, E; Goodyer, IM |
| Publisher Information: |
National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) |
| Description: |
Background The Systemic Therapy for At Risk Teens (START) trial is a randomised controlled trial of multisystemic therapy (MST) compared with management as usual (MAU). The present study reports on long-term follow-up of the trial (to 60 months). Objectives The primary objective was to compare MST and MAU for the proportion of young people in each group with criminal convictions up to 60 months post baseline. Secondary outcomes included group comparisons of psychological and behavioural factors. An economic analysis was carried out to determine the cost-effectiveness of MST compared with MAU. Two qualitative studies were conducted to better understand the subjective experiences of the participants. Design Primary outcomes (collected up to 60 months) were collected using a centralised police database. Secondary outcomes were evaluated using self-report questionnaires completed by both young people and parents or carers at the 24-, 36- and 48-month follow-ups. Research assistants were blind to treatment allocation. Setting Participants were recruited from participating MST sites in nine areas of England. Secondary outcomes were typically collected within the family home. Participants A total of 684 families were recruited into the START trial and allocated randomly to a treatment group. Of these, 487 remained in the second phase of the trial. Young people were aged, on average, 13.8 years at baseline, with 63% male and 37% female. Interventions MST is a manualised programme for young people exhibiting antisocial behaviour and their families that uses principles from cognitive–behavioural and family therapy to provide an individualised approach. MAU content was not prespecified, but consisted of the standard care offered to young people who met eligibility for the trial. Main outcome measures Young people’s offending was evaluated using the Police National Computer. Secondary measures included validated self-report measures completed by both the young person and their parent or carer. The economic evaluation took a ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://doi.org/10.3310/hsdr08230 |
| DOI: |
10.3310/hsdr08230 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3310/hsdr08230; https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:f5cb7d33-be0c-49f5-ba45-000d8035ec27 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; CC Attribution (CC BY) |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.144F0007 |
| Database: |
BASE |