An interventional study of Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults and Enhanced Treatment as Usual in Antisocial Behavior, sponsored by University of Massachusetts, Worcester. Completed at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 16 Years to 26 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-07.
Sponsored by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study's purpose is to test the effectiveness of a promising intervention for emerging adults (EAs) with mental illness (MI) and serious antisocial behavior in achieving the ultimate outcome of reduced antisocial behavior, and proximal intermediate outcomes. Multisystemic Therapy-Emerging Adults (MST-EA) is an adaptation of MST, a well-established, effective intervention for antisocial behavior in adolescents.
Serious antisocial behavior, including criminal offending, is extremely costly to society. Rates of such behavior are highest during emerging adulthood. Antisocial behavior is especially high among emerging adults (EAs) with mental illness (MI); findings suggest the majority of EAs with MI will be arrested by age 25, most with multiple arrests, and for serious charges. Thus, there is a clear public health need for effective treatments to reduce serious antisocial behavior in EAs with MI. Astonishingly, there are no established interventions with evidence of efficacy to reduce serious antisocial behavior among EAs, with or without MI. Effective antisocial behavior interventions in adolescents address the comprehensive causes of that behavior. Similarly, this team has developed and completed research on a well-defined age-tailored intervention for EAs with MI and serious antisocial behavior that addresses the correlates of EA antisocial behavior, and provides MI treatment. The intervention is an adaptation of the well-established effective juvenile antisocial behavior intervention, Multisystemic Therapy (MST). MST-EA is a single source that targets the EA correlates of antisocial behavior, including gainful activity (school, work, housing, and positive relationships) and reduced substance use, in part by targeting the proximal mechanism of poor self-regulation. MST-EA also addresses these correlates through reducing MI symptoms. The investigative team has already established the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of this type of intervention in a successfully completed community-based open trial (R34MH081374-01, PI: Davis). The proposed study will rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of MST-EA for reducing serious antisocial behavior. Specifically, 240 EAs with MI and recent arrests or release from justice facilities will be randomized to receive MST-EA or Enhanced Treatment as Usual (E-TAU). Assessments will be completed at months 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16, with confirmation of outcome data using system records. The first aim will be to evaluate the effect over time of MST-EA for improving the ultimate outcome of treatment: reduced serious antisocial behavior. The second aim is to evaluate the effect of MST-EA on (a) the key proximal target of treatment (self-regulation) and (b) the proposed intermediate outcomes of treatment (gainful activity, substance use, and MI problems). The final aim will be to determine whether MST-EA's effect on the ultimate outcome is the result of its effect on the proximal target and intermediate outcomes of treatment. There is a current absence of any antisocial behavior treatments with demonstrated efficacy in this age group. The ultimate effect of the proposed research would be decreased antisocial behavior and other public health-related behaviors (MI symptoms, substance use, homelessness, unemployment) among one of the highest-risk populations of individuals with MI. With an emphasis on treatment mechanisms and the near absence of MI research focused on EAs, this innovative research has high potential to advance the field.
47 studies on the registry are indexed under Antisocial Personality Disorder; 8 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 193 is above the median of 165 across 36 interventional studies indexed under Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Browse Antisocial Personality Disorder studies →University of Massachusetts, Worcester is the lead sponsor of 288 studies on the registry; 54 are open to participants now.
Of its 25 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 18 (72%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (MST-EA) is designed to help emerging adults (ages 18-21) with mental illness who have been in trouble with the law. MST-EA is a treatment program specifically for emerging adults, to increase skills and capacities that can help them reduce their antisocial behavior and help reduce problems caused by mental health illness, and alcohol or drug use when present.
Behavioral: Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults
With Enhanced Treatment as Usual (E-TAU) emerging adults will get the treatments that they usually receive when they have a mental illness and have been in trouble with the law. They will receive travel vouchers for attending services, a card with an individualized list of contacts when in crisis, and facilitation with identifying need of services and accessing those services.
Behavioral: Enhanced Treatment as Usual
MST-EA is a home-based therapy in which therapists work closely with each young adult. Therapists often also work with the young person's family, as appropriate. MST-EA is designed to help young people work on their own behavior. This treatment also involves the use of coaches who help young people develop skills for young adulthood.
Also known as: Multisystemic Therapy for Transition-Age Youth (MST-TAY)
Standard services that a young person would receive if they have been in trouble with the law and also have a mental illness.
Also known as: E-TAU
Change in number and severity of criminal charges in official records in the 16 months pre-baseline compared with the 16 months post-baseline.
Changes from the Baseline in offending, measured in the number of offenses in the Self-Report Offending Scale, during the 16 months post-baseline.
Time frame: 16 months pre-baseline compared with 16 months post-baseline
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Self-efficacy (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Self-efficacy measured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Goal directness (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Goal directness measured using Wills Self Control Measures (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Responsibility taking (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Responsibility taking measured using sub-scale of the Behavioral Indicators of Conscientiousness (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Symptoms (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
The number and severity of symptoms measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Treatment Usage (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
The number of hospitalizations, Emergency Room visits and treatment usage for psychiatric reasons (Self-Report and Archival records).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Drug Screens (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
The number of positive drug screens from toxicology testing for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), synthetic THC, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepines, and cocaine.
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Substance Use and Problems(measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Frequency of substance use and substance-related problems reported on the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Antisocial Peers (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Antisocial Peer Involvement measured using the Peer Delinquency Scale (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Interpersonal Competence (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Social Conflict and social functioning measured in the Interpersonal Competence Scale (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Housing stability (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Housing stability as reported by participant and archival.
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline Relationships (measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Network of Relationships Inventory (Self Report).
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Changes from Baseline scores compared to 16 months post-Baseline School and Work(measured at 0,2,4,6,8,12 and 16 months).
Days in school or work measured as reported by participant and archival.
Time frame: Baseline to16 months
Plan to share: Yes
This study is completed, as verified in May 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Antisocial Personality Disorder→
University of Massachusetts, Worcester