Computer-based interventions for drug use disorders: A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of substance abuse treatment Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 215 - 223
• Main Authors: Moore, Brent A., Ph.D, Fazzino, Tera, M.A, Garnet, Brian, B.A, Cutter, Christopher J., Ph.D, Barry, Declan T., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Computer; Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drug use; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Internet; Intervention; Interventions; Landscapes; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Miscellaneous; Motivation; Psychiatric disorders; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Substance abuse; Substance abuse treatment; Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Systematic review; Telephone services; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Treatments; Intervention; Computer; Drug abuse; Systematic review; Human; Drug addiction; Use; Evidence-based practice; Substance abuse; Evidence-based medicine; Addiction; Computer aid; Bibliographic review; Public health
• ISSN: 0740-5472; 1873-6483
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2010.11.002

Abstract A range of innovative computer-based interventions for psychiatric disorders have been developed and are promising for drug use disorders due to reduced cost and greater availability compared to traditional treatment. Electronic searches were conducted from 1966 to November 19, 2009, using MEDLINE, Psychlit, and EMBASE. Four hundred sixty-eight nonduplicate records were identified. Two reviewers classified abstracts for study inclusion, resulting in 12 studies of moderate quality. Eleven studies were pilot or full-scale trials compared to a control condition. Interventions showed high acceptability despite substantial variation in type and amount of treatment. Compared to treatment-as-usual, computer-based interventions led to less substance use and higher motivation to change, better retention, and greater knowledge of presented information. Computer-based interventions for drug use disorders have the potential to dramatically expand and alter the landscape of treatment. Evaluation of Internet- and telephone-based delivery that allows for treatment-on-demand in patients' own environment is needed.