In this study (not performed in the CTN), researchers examined the impact of replacing half the standard counseling sessions in a methadone maintenance program with TES.
This article may be of interest to those following the impact of NIDA Clinical Trials Network protocol CTN-0044, which examined the use of a web-delivered psychosocial treatment for substance use disorders called the Therapeutic Education System (TES).
Analyses found that standard +TES produced significantly better opioid abstinence than standard treatment alone for participants with:
a moderate or high frequency of lifetime SUD treatment episodes, and all three levels (low, moderate, and high) of detoxification and inpatient/outpatient treatment episodes.
The standard+TES condition also enhanced cocaine abstinence compared to standard treatment among participants with:
Conclusions: Technology-based behavioral therapy as part of methadone maintenance treatment can be more effective than standard treatment alone, especially among patients with a history of multipleaddiction treatment episodes. This evidence underscores the finding that personalized computer-based SUD therapy offers promise for treatment-resistant patients who may require prolonged treatment and care.