"Multisystemic therapy, an intensive home-based family therapy initiative, reduces hospital admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis in adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.

During 24 months' follow-up, there were significantly fewer cumulative hospital admissions for DKA among patients who received MST compared to control subjects.

The cost to provide MST was $6943 per patient. However, there were substantial cost offsets from reductions in DKA hospital admissions.

Preliminary evaluation suggests that control youth with DKA admissions accumulated sufficient costs over 24 months and that expenditures on MST may be justified by potential for savings. The study demonstrates the potential for intensive behavioral interventions to reduce serious consequences of medication noncompliance in high-risk youth."

Diabetes Care 2008;31:1746-1747.