Evidence-based couple and family therapies have a robust and well-established evidence base as a cost-effective treatment for numerous conditions and are the treatment of choice for several childhood and adult mental health issues. This review provides a brief overview of systemic couple and family therapy principles and then reviews the evidence base for using these methods with specific disorders. Family therapy treatments have been identified as a primary intervention for several childhood and adolescent disorders, including conduct, alcohol and substance use, attention-deficit, autism, psychotic, mood, anxiety, and eating disorders, as well as certain physical disorders, including diabetes, enuresis, and asthma. For adults, the current evidence base supports couples therapy for major depressive disorder with couple distress, alcohol and substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, distressed couples, and interpersonal violence with certain batterers. In addition, couple and family therapy is indicated for certain adult chronic health conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, and diabetes. The review concludes with a discussion of effective referral for and training in evidence-based family therapy approaches.
This review contains 6 figures, 5 tables, and 53 references.
Key words: ADD/ADHD, adolescent, childhood trauma, conduct disorder, couples therapy, depression, eating disorders, family therapy, marital therapy, mood disorder
Review: family or couples therapy is more effective than non-family therapy for drug abuse