Medical Family Therapy

Current Happenings in MedFT

 
 

 
 
 
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Recent & Emerging Evidence for Medical Family Therapy

Medical Family Therapy integrates systemic and relational thinking into healthcare. Current evidence supports several pathways through which this approach can add value. These include reduced healthcare costs, improved access, family-based intervention effectiveness, and distinctive roles within interdisciplinary teams. However, the evidence is stronger for systemic and family-based care than for MedFT-specific outcomes. Direct comparisons between MedFTs and other integrated behavioral health clinicians remain limited.

MedFT & MFT Contributions to Healthcare Teams

  • Crane, S., Osterbauer, M. C., Piland, N., & Satterfield, A. (2026). Marriage and family therapists in pediatric integrated specialty care settings: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 52(1), Article e70101. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70101

  • Lamson, A. L., Hodgson, J. L., Pratt, K. J., Mendenhall, T. J., Wong, A. G., Sesemann, E. M., Brown, B. J., Taylor, E. S., Williams-Reade, J. M., Blocker, D. J., Harsh Caspari, J., Zubatsky, M., & Martin, M. P. (2022). Couple and family interventions for high mortality health conditions: A strategic review (2010–2019). Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48(1), 307–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12564

Healthcare Costs, Utilization, & System Value

  • Distelberg, B., Castronova, M., Tapanes, D., Allen, J., & Puder, D. (2021). Evaluation of the healthcare cost offsets of MEND: A family systems mental health integration approach. Family Process, 60(2), 331–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12564

  • Distelberg, B. J., Emerson, N. D., Gavaza, P., Tapanes, D., Brown, W. N., Shah, H., Williams-Reade, J., & Montgomery, S. (2016). A cost-benefit analysis of a family systems intervention for managing pediatric chronic illness. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 42(3), 371–382. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12166

  • Crane, D. R., & Payne, S. H. (2011). Individual versus family psychotherapy in managed care: Comparing the costs of treatment by the mental health professions. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37(3), 273–289. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00170.x

  • Crane, D. R., Christenson, J. D., Dobbs, S. M., Schaalje, G. B., Moore, A. M., Pedal, F. F. C., Ballard, J., & Marshall, E. S. (2013). Costs of treating depression with individual versus family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39(4), 457–469. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00326.x

  • Law, D. D., & Crane, D. R. (2000). The influence of marital and family therapy on health care utilization in a health-maintenance organization. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26(3), 281–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2000.tb00298.x

  • Law, D. D., Crane, D. R., & Berge, J. M. (2003). The influence of individual, marital, and family therapy on high utilizers of health care. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29(3), 353–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2003.tb01212.x

Does Family-Based Care Add Value Beyond Patient-Only Care?

  • Sousa, H., Ribeiro, O., Afreixo, V., Costa, E., Paúl, C., Ribeiro, F., & Figueiredo, D. (2021). “Should WE stand together?”: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of family-based interventions for adults with chronic physical diseases. Family Process, 60(4), 1098–1116. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12707

  • Zhang, H., Zhang, Q., Luo, D., Cai, X., Li, R., Zhang, Y., Lu, Y., Liu, J., Gu, J., & Li, M. (2022). The effect of family-based intervention for adults with diabetes on HbA1c and other health-related outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(11–12), 1488–1501. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16082

  • Busebaia, T. J. A., Thompson, J., Fairbrother, H., & Ali, P. (2023). The role of family in supporting adherence to diabetes self-care management practices: An umbrella review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(10), 3652–3677. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15689Expanding Access to Behavioral Healthcare

  • Ma, Y., Wen, H., Wen, J., Orav, E. J., Golberstein, E., & Figueroa, J. F. (2026). Growth in participation of mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists after Medicare coverage expansion. Health Affairs, 45(9), 1027–1036. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01854 ‍

Emerging MedFT Research Priorities

Existing research supports systemic treatment, cost-offset potential, workforce contributions, and distinctive MedFT roles. However, several important questions remain unanswered.

  • Compare MedFT-delivered care directly with other integrated behavioral health disciplines.

  • Measure medical outcomes such as disease control and readmissions.

  • Test healthcare utilization and cost effects prospectively.

  • Measure care coordination and healthcare team functioning.

  • Study implementation across diverse healthcare systems.

  • Evaluate MedFT contributions in rural and underserved settings.

  • Test MedFT-specific approaches in oncology, perinatal care, pediatrics, and serious illness.

  • Examine digital and technology-supported MedFT interventions.

 

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