Multisystemic therapy for adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes - Reduced diabetic ketoacidosis admissions and related costs over 24 months

OBJECTIVE - The Study aim was to determine if multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive home-based psychotherapy, could reduce hospital admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in youth with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes over 24 months. Potential cost savings from reductions in admissions were also evaluated. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 127 youth were randomly assigned to MST or control groups and also received standard medical care. RESULTS - Youth who received MST had significantly fewer hospital admissions than control subjects (chi(2) = 11.77, 4 d.f., n = 127; P = 0.019). MST-treated youth had significantly fewer admissions versus their baseline rate at 6-month (P = 0.004), 12-month (P = 0.021), 18-month (P = 0.046), and 24-month follow-up (P = 0.034). Cost to provide MST was 6,934 USD per youth; however, substantial cost offsets occurred from reductions in DKA admissions. CONCLUSIONS - The study demonstrates the value of intensive behavioral interventions for high-risk youth with diabetes for reducing one of the most serious consequences of medication noncompliance.