Treating adolescents with cannabis use disorder with Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT): Main results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) among adolescents with cannabis use disorder in Germany. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), MDFT was compared with Youth Psychotherapy (JUP), an individual intervention including Cognitive Behavioral and Motivational Enhancement Techniques, which is the Treatment as usual (TAU) at Therapieladen in Berlin. Four follow-ups were conducted three, six, nine and twelve months after study baseline. 120 adolescents between 13 and 18 years with cannabis abuse or dependence (DSM-IV) participated. Results: Compared to the baseline, participants of both treatments significantly reduced their cannabis use, use-related problems and psychological disorders in the twelve-month follow-up. MDFT was significantly more effective than JUP in the reduction of cannabis use (d = 0.31). Conclusions: Cannabis use disorder among adolescents in Germany can successfully be treated with MDFT.

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