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Youth in the legal system (YILS) report high rates of substance use (SU), complex family/social relationships, and chronic trauma. The current study tested the feasibility of a prevention intervention, Trust-based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), that leverages family systems by strengthening connection and providing emotional and instrumental guidance and support. TBRI includes the primary TBRI Intervention, comprised of Caregiver Training, Youth Training, and joint youth-caregiver Nurture Groups, and TBRI Family Coaching. With a sample of eight youth-caregiver dyads, the study adopted a mixed-methods design with a multi-informant approach to fulfill two goals: (1) testing TBRI as a prevention intervention for opioid use (OU), other SU, and related issues, and (2) testing the feasibility and acceptability of the TBRI Intervention by virtual delivery. Session attendance and completion rates demonstrated feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants and intervention fidelity. Preliminary results were reported on intervention outcomes, including OU and other SU, illegal activities, and educational attainment. Pre- and post-intervention comparisons showed decreases in youth negative urgency, conduct problems, and hyperactivity. Caregiver and staff participants responded favorably to TBRI and its virtual delivery; youth were more capable of expressing their needs and acknowledged the importance of families in preventing problems after discharge from secure facilities. While acknowledging sufficiency of intervention content, caregivers expressed the desire for more sessions. Results demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a trauma-informed, attachment-based prevention intervention for youth and families in contact with the legal system. TBRI is a promising approach for preventing the initiation or escalation of OU among YILS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panic disorder (PD) affects family members and can be influenced by familial factors. Adverse family events may contribute to anxiety and PD. We examined a family therapy case of a client with PD in South Korea. We used a thematic analysis to analyze therapy transcripts and video recordings and displayed our findings using a network. We identified five stages of the psychological process in the development of PD: (1) formation of anxiety, (2) sheltered life, (3) crisis, (4) loss of haven, and (5) inner breakdown. External situations, family dynamics, and psychological experiences at each stage are examined. Family dynamics that occurred as the family coped with external situations contributed to the client's psychological experiences, which triggered anxiety that led to PD. This study suggests family dynamics can be associated with one's internal experiences that could lead to PD, highlighting the importance of functional family dynamics and coping when facing crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families must restructure and renegotiate rules, roles, and boundaries when a member is incarcerated. Nonincarcerated partners may act as gatekeepers and primary caretakers, however, a strong coparenting alliance can facilitate better family outcomes such as greater relationship satisfaction and cohesion. Structural family therapy (SFT) can help families conceptualize a healthy structure when experiencing the incarceration of a member. In this study, an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was estimated using structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze 864 heterosexual romantic couples where the man was incarcerated, using data from the Multi-site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting and Partnering (MFS-IP). We examined the relationship between 4-point scales measuring the perceived reliability of parenting responsibilities and internally consistent 8-item Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) scores that capture relationship satisfaction and cohesion. Both actor and partner effects are significant for each dyad member; being able to rely on one's partner to follow through with their parenting responsibilities and having a partner who can rely on them are important predictors of greater relationship satisfaction and cohesion. Results emphasize the need for therapeutic services to strengthen romantic and coparenting relationships where one partner is incarcerated. Highlights: When a parent is incarcerated, families are tasked with restructuring. SFT allows for the theoretical understanding of structure, rules, and boundaries for families experiencing incarceration. We examined the relationship between the perceived reliability of parenting responsibilities and dyadic adjustment. Being able to rely on one's partner concerning parenting responsibilities predicts greater relationship satisfaction and cohesion and having a partner who can rely on the respondent predicts greater relationship satisfaction and cohesion. Results showcase the need for therapeutic services to strengthen incarcerated romantic and coparenting relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopted children are often at a risk of experiencing several neurobiological and psychosocial difficulties. Adoptive parents must support these difficulties whilst managing their own idiosyncratic challenges. Family-based psychotherapeutic interventions which promote adoptive family functioning, environments and relationships can mediate these difficulties for adopted families. This review synthesises evidence exploring family-based psychological interventions for adoptive families, appraises the literature's strengths and weaknesses, and reports characteristics of promising interventions. Included studies recruited domestically adoptive families receiving psychotherapeutic interventions delivered to at least one adoptive parent and child. The authors searched seven electronic information databases, four grey literature databases, two journals and five relevant websites up to 12.12.2022. The quantitative Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions tool and the qualitative Critical Skills Appraisal Programme checklist assessed risk of bias. The narrative synthesis presents 20 papers detailing 18 studies involving at least 729 adopted children and 829 adoptive parents. Findings provide preliminary support for integrative interventions which include aspects of sensory activities, attachment-based play, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing with Therapeutic Input provided to adopted children and adoptive parents separately, alongside the adoptive family. However, risk of bias was high, limiting the conclusions. Future research should examine the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of integrative therapeutic approaches for adoptive families to further direct clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although structural family theory proposes that family boundaries play a significant role in marital relationships, limited empirical evidence supports this theoretical model. The present study tested structural family theory by examining the complex associations between intergenerational boundaries and adult children's marital satisfaction, as well as the indirect effect of family adaptability and cohesion. A nonclinical convenience sample of individuals (333 participants, 168 females) married for at least one year was recruited. Participants provided self-report data on demographic variables, family boundaries, family cohesion and adaptability, and marital satisfaction. The internal intrusion score (intrusion by families of origin on the nuclear family) of intergenerational family boundaries was negatively associated with marital satisfaction, while the external intrusion score (intrusion by the nuclear family on families of origin) was positively associated with marital satisfaction. The effect of intergenerational family boundaries on marital satisfaction was exerted indirectly through family cohesion and adaptability. There was a significant association between intergenerational family boundaries and adult children's marital satisfaction. This study contributes to the conceptual framework of structural family theory, enabling family therapy practitioners to better understand the pathways through which intergenerational family boundaries impact adult children's marital satisfaction. Highlights: The findings shed light on the critical role that intergenerational family boundaries in marital relationships. The internal intrusion of intergenerational family boundaries was negatively associated with marital satisfaction, while the external intrusion demonstrated a positive association. The findings suggested a significant indirect association between family boundaries and marital satisfaction through family cohesion and family adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to expand knowledge of family-based intervention for people with ASD has been observed. However, there is a lack of study in Chinese context such as Hong Kong exploring the use of multifamily therapy (MFT) for adults with ASD. The primary aim of the present study is to assess the feasibility of a process-oriented MFT in promoting family relationships for young adults with high functioning-ASD (HF-ASD) and their parents. We also sought to explore the therapeutic process factors of MFT that were deemed helpful by the family participants in our study. Two types of MFT—one online, the other face-to-face—were conducted from March to August 2021 for families with adults with HF-ASD in Hong Kong. In total, 13 families participated in our multi-method study. Among the results, cross-family therapeutic alliance and treatment engagement were positively associated with enhanced family relationships among participants. Significant differences emerged in changes in the cross-family therapeutic alliance and family relationships between the online and face-to-face MFTs. Two themes regarding the helpful aspects of MFT emerged: first, having a cross-family interactional context and, second, the authentic engagement of people with HF-ASD. Overall, our results imply that MFT, in either online or face-to-face mode, could be a feasible family group psychotherapy for adults with HF-ASD and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most models that analyse risk and protective factors during adolescence include the family system and family functionality as key elements. For this reason, Family Counselling Services play an important role in addressing adolescent problems. These services require quick and easy-to-apply assessment tools that integrate different dimensions of family functioning. To develop and validate a brief scale for use in Family Counselling Services, exploring and confirming its factorial structure and testing its psychometric properties. Confirmatory Factor Analysis using structural equation modeling. 441 family members in seven units. Results: A 5-factor structure was confirmed, with a good fit. All the Average Variance Extracted values were higher than the Maximum Shared Squared Variance values. The results confirm the structure of the Family Functioning Scale-Madrid. In addition, the scale demonstrates adequate psychometric properties and stable structure during two evaluation periods with different samples. The instrument is considered reliable and consistent for of assessing family intervention carried out in Family Counselling Services. Highlights: What is known so far? Family system and functionality has a relevant role as a risk and/or protective factor with respect to maladaptive behaviours. One common demand of Family Counselling Services is to be able to count on assessment protocols and instruments adapted to their target population. Available evidence provides few instruments that assess family functioning in an agile way. What does this article contribute? This study provides a brief, reliable instrument with optimal psychometric properties. Family Functioning Scale-Madrid assesses specific dimensions of family change in counseling. Theoretical structure of Family Functioning Scale-Madrid aligns with the Circumplex and Family Stress models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]