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Evidence summaries

Psychosocial Treatment for Opiate Abuse and Dependence

Evidence is insufficient for conclusion about the effectiveness of psychosocial treatments used alone in the treatment of people with opiate abuse and dependence. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 [withdrawn from publication] included five studies with a total of 389 subjects. All trials compared different approaches (Contingency Management, Brief Reinforcement Based Intensive Outpatient Therapy coupled with Contingency Management, Cue Exposure therapy, Alternative Program for Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program Drop-outs [MMTP] and Enhanced Outreach-Counselling Program) the control (standard) treatment.

Both Enhanced Outreach Counselling and Brief Reinforcement Based Intensive Outpatient Therapy coupled with Contingency Management had significantly better outcomes than standard therapy regarding relapse to opioid use, re-enrolment in treatment and retention in treatment. There was no evidence of a sustained effect after 1 to 3 months. The Alternative Program for MMTP Drop-outs and the behavioural therapies of Cue Exposure and Contingency Management alone were no better than the control.

    References

    • Mayet S, Farrell MF, Ferri M et al. WITHDRAWN: Psychosocial treatment for opiate abuse and dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;(4):CD004330. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords