According to recent research from the United States, "African-American adolescents have the highest rates of asthma morbidity and mortality, yet there are few successful behavioral interventions to improve illness management for this group. Mental health providers have an opportunity to expand their services and impact by targeting adolescents with poor asthma management."

"We describe the adaptation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST), an intensive, home and community-based treatment originally used with antisocial youth, for improving asthma management. We present a case study to illustrate the treatment model," wrote S. Naarking and colleagues, Wayne State University (see also Asthma).

The researchers concluded: "Feasibility was demonstrated with eight African American adolescents with chronic, persistent asthma, suggesting that further evaluation of MST for youth with asthma and poor illness management is warranted."

Naarking and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Child and Family Studies (Feasibility of Adapting Multisystemic Therapy to Improve Illness Management Behaviors and Reduce Asthma Morbidity in High Risk African American Youth: A Case Series. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2009;18(5):564-573).

For additional information, contact S. Naarking, Wayne State University, Carman & Ann Adams Dept. of Pediatrics, 4201 St. Antoine St., Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Child and Family Studies is: Springer, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.