Table 1.

Summary of ABFT Intervention Studies

Study Title	Authors	Population	Design	Outcome Measure	Post Outcomes	Follow-up Outcomes
Attachment-based family therapy for depressed adolescents	G. S. Diamond et al. (2002)	N = 32, M age = 14.9, 78% female, 69% African American	Random assignment: 12 weeks ABFT or 6 weeks waitlist control	BDI, K-SADS	-No difference in mean BDI scores -More adolescents in treatment condition who endorsed nonclinical BDI scores -Increased family cohesion and perceived attachment	87% of treated sample no longer met MDD criteria and showed significant reductions in symptoms
Attachment-based family therapy for adolescents with suicidal ideation	G. S. Diamond et al. (2010)	N = 66 adolescents, M age = 15.2, 83% female, 74% African American	Random assignment: 16 weeks ABFT (M = 9.71 sessions) or EUC (M = 2.87 sessions)	Suicidal ideation and depression tracking	-ABFT group had larger/faster reductions in SI during treatment -ABFT group had greater rates of clinical recovery	-ABFT group differences still maintained, as were treatment benefits -87% had SI scores below clinical cutoff
Attachment-based family and nondirective supportive treatments	G. S. Diamond et al. (2019)	N = 129, M age = 14.87, 50% African American, 30% White	Urn random assignment: 16 weeks ABFT or NST	SIQ monthly BDI, conflict, cohesion	Significant reduction in suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in both groups. Few suicide reattempts
Hospital aftercare program evaluation	G. S. Diamond et al. (in preparation)	N = 20, M age = 14.9, 80% female, 65% African American	Random assignment: 16 weeks ABFT or EUC	Suicidal ideation, family attachment	ABFT more effective in preventing attempts, reduced attachment avoidance
Feasibility of attachment-based family therapy for depressed clinic-referred Norwegian adolescents	Israel & Diamond (2013)	N = 20, M age = 15.6, 50% female	Random assignment: 12 weeks ABFT or TAU	HAM-D, K-SADS, BDI	ABFT patients had lower HAM-D ratings, more movement to nonclinical BDI scores	Implementation challenges discovered
Cognitive behavioral and attachment-based family therapy for anxious adolescents: Phase I and II studies	Siqueland et al. (2005)	Phase I N = 8, M age = 15.5 Phase II N = 11, M age = 14.9	Phase I 16 sessions CBT-ABFT Phase II Randomized CBT or CBT-ABFT	ADIS, HAM-A, HAM-D, BAI, BDI	-Significant decreases in anxiety and depressive symptoms -No between-treatment differences
Attachment-based family therapy for suicidal lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents	G. M. Diamond et al. (2012)	N = 10 suicidal LGB youth	12 weeks LGB-sensitive ABFT		Decreases in SI, depressive symptoms, maternal attachment-related anxiety, and avoidance
Relationship-focused therapy for sexual/gender minority youth adults and their parents	G. M. Diamond et al. (2019)	N = 31 SGM youth + caregivers	6 months adapted ABFT for SGM		Perceived parental rejection decreased, acceptance increased. Reduction in caregiver negative behavior
ABFT for transgendered suicidal youth	Russon et al. (2021)	N = 10, TGD or sexual/gender minority youth	Open trial, 10 weeks	SIQ, BDI	Decreases in SI. No significant decreases in depression	ABFT feasible and acceptable treatment for TGD youth
Attachment-based family therapy and emotion-focused therapy for unresolved anger: The role of productive emotional processing	G. M. Diamond et al. (2016)	N = 32 (presenting unresolved anger toward a parent)	10 weeks ABFT or EFT	Anger attachment psychological symptoms	Only ABFT group showed decrease in attachment avoidance. More productive emotional processing in EFT. Both groups showed decreased unresolved and state anger