Parent–teen communication predicts treatment benefit for depressed and suicidal adolescents.

Abstract

Attachment-based family therapy and family-enhanced nondirective supportive therapy were most effective for adolescents from traditionally underserved families and adolescents who engaged in less cooperative communication with their caregivers. Observational ratings of parent-adolescent communication were better prognostic indicators of treatment response than were self-reported indicators of global family functioning. Implications for generalizing these results to other treatments for depressed and suicidal adolescents are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).