beginnermultisystemic therapyMSTconduct disorderjuvenile offenderscommunity-based treatmentadolescent psychiatry
A 15-year-old boy with conduct disorder has been arrested twice for vandalism and assault. He is failing three classes, associates primarily with antisocial peers, and his single mother works double shifts and struggles to monitor his activities. The court mandates an intensive community-based treatment in which a therapist team with small caseloads provides services in the family's home, school, and neighborhood. Treatment targets the specific factors maintaining the adolescent's antisocial behavior across multiple systems including family, peer group, school, and community, with 24/7 on-call availability.