The research conducted in the Effective Family project compares the Beardslee Preventive Family Intervention and the 'Let's Talk about Children' working model. An outcomes study aims to find out which families benefit most from the more resource-intensive Beardslee Preventive Family Intervention and which families receive sufficient support through the shorter Let's Talk about Children intervention. The research data are collected in co-operation with psychiatric and primary health-care units around Finland. The study, a follow-up study based on questionnaire data, involves 118 families, all with a parent receiving treatment for an affective disorder and a child aged 8-16. The families are randomised into the research groups. .

The project also runs a study on family intervention processes, drawing on video and audio recordings of Beardslee Preventive Family Intervention sessions.

Furthermore, it conducts research on and assesses the embedding of new preventive working methods targeted at children and families, analysing their impacts on the service delivery system and work practices.

The research on preventive interventions involves on-going thesis work with special research groups: Talismaani. The group is led by Professor Raija-Leena Punamäki from the Psychology Department of Tampere University and Tytti Solantaus, a Development Manager from STAKES.