Scores on the Addiction Severity Index were significantly improved in all domains except for “satisfaction,” which Dr. Wittchen attributed to the requirement that participants alter their social network, which in turn, affected their quality of life. Psychopathological symptoms also were significantly improved, but a reduction in alcohol use was not found.
Altogether, at 6 months, vs. baseline, stable continued abstinence was observed in 49%, and marked reduction or temporal abstinence was observed in 38%, while 11% had no change and 3% progressed to heavier use of cannabis.
More than 80% of participants reported that the therapy as “very helpful,” he added. “They particularly liked the character of the program,” for example, it was not a typical substance abuse setting. In addition, they appreciated the limited number of “dense” sessions and the short-term duration of treatment.
The investigators have prepared a manual describing the program, which has procedural specifications of all elements, including diagnostic assessments. It is modular (to identify the core active components of the therapy) and highly structured (with scripts and verbatim descriptions of critical procedures). Specification and standardization are meant to enhance the ease of training, transfer, consistency of use, and reproducibility. The program also has just been evaluated in a 15-site translational study involving 450 persons, “with similarly impressive findings,” Dr. Wittchen added.
Dr. Wittchen reported no conflicts relevant to the study. It was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.