Module 3: Treatment Strategies

1A. Risk Factors to Address in Treating Co-occurring Disorders

The following are risk factors that have been associated with recidivism and must be addressed in treating juvenile offenders with co-occurring disorders (Henggeler et al., 1998; Kazdin, 1996).

Individual

• Psychiatric and substance-abusing disorders
• Neuropsychological deficits and difficulties
• Academic and intellectual performance
• Health and medical needs

Family

• Parental psychiatric and substance abuse disorders
• Criminal activity by family members
• Parental separation, divorce, and marital discord
• Socioeconomic disadvantage
• Ineffective discipline strategies

Peers

• Association with deviant peers

School Factors

• Ineffectively structured and poorly supervised learning environments
• Low achievement expectations
• High dropout rates due to suspensions and expulsion
• Parental involvement discouraged

Neighborhood and Community Characteristics

• High mobility
• Low support available from neighbors, church, and other community resources
• Significant community violence
• Criminal subculture: High incidence of gang and drug activity