Family therapy for the treatment of depressed adolescents.

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Abstract
Family Therapy (FT) has gained increasing recognition as a treatment of choice when working with children and adolescents. We have tailored a family therapy model to specifically treat depressed adolescents (FTDA). The model is being developed and evaluated at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Using current research and theory, this article gives a rationale for using FT with this population. The conceptual principles that guide clinical practice, that is, an interactional view of depression, reattachment theory, and a multidimensional assessment and intervention strategy, are discussed. Several specific therapeutic tasks will be described, including joining, problem redefinition, breaking the symptomatic cycle, and reestablishing the family as a context of socialization. Research hypotheses for evaluating the model will be described.

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