Use of Multisystemic Therapy to Improve Regimen Adherence Among Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes in Chronic Poor Metabolic Control

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, could improve adherence and metabolic control and decrease rates of hospital utilization among adolescents with chronically poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 127 adolescents with type 1 diabetes and chronically poor metabolic control (HbA_1c [A1C] ≥8% for the past year) who received their diabetes care in a children’s hospital located in a major Midwestern city. Participants randomly assigned to MST received treatment for ∼6 months. Data were collected at baseline and at 7 months posttest (i.e., treatment termination). Changes in A1C adherence, as measured by semistructured interviews and blood glucose meters and hospital admissions and emergency department visits, were assessed.

RESULTS—In intent-to-treat analyses, participation in MST was associated with significant improvements in the frequency of blood glucose testing as assessed by blood glucose meter readings (F[1,125] = 16.75, P = 0.001) and 24-h recall interviews (F[1,125] = 6.70, P = 0.011). Participants in MST also had a decreasing number of inpatient admissions, whereas the number of inpatient admissions increased for control subjects (F[1,125] = 6.25, P = 0.014). Per protocol analyses replicated intent-to-treat analyses but also showed a significant improvement in metabolic control for adolescents receiving MST compared with control subjects (F[1,114] = 4.03, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS—Intensive, home-based psychotherapy improves the frequency of blood glucose testing and metabolic control and decreases inpatient admissions among adolescents with chronically poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.