Authors' recommendations: For alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions, the literature suggests that computer or telephone-based interventions may be a viable alternative or a useful adjunct to conventional face-to-face therapy. Further research on this topic directed at discerning the active components of treatments which are deemed effective such as duration and intensity of therapy, especially among adolescents, is required because of the potential for computer or telephone-based interventions to reach individuals who are underserved by traditional therapy. There were no studies identified of cost-effectiveness comparing alternative delivery models and face-to-face delivery and therefore conclusions about cost-effectiveness cannot be made. In addition, no guidelines as to which patients with addictions would be best suited to self-directed CBT or tele-therapy were identified. Economic analyses should be routinely incorporated into future studies, so that the real costs and benefits of technology-based interventions can be compared with those of intensive inpatient programs.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/L0154_CBT_Addictions.pdf

Year Published: 2010

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)