The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review
BackgroundCue Exposure Therapy (CET) is a behavioristic psychological intervention for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Recently, CET has been examined in technology-assisted formats to increase intervention efficacy. No systematic review has examined the efficacy of different CET formats ac...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544763/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849391811351543808 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel Thaysen-Petersen Sigurd Krogh Hammerum Signe Wegmann Düring Signe Wegmann Düring Signe Wegmann Düring Pia Veldt Larsen Anders Fink-Jensen Anders Fink-Jensen Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin |
| author_facet | Daniel Thaysen-Petersen Sigurd Krogh Hammerum Signe Wegmann Düring Signe Wegmann Düring Signe Wegmann Düring Pia Veldt Larsen Anders Fink-Jensen Anders Fink-Jensen Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin |
| author_sort | Daniel Thaysen-Petersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundCue Exposure Therapy (CET) is a behavioristic psychological intervention for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Recently, CET has been examined in technology-assisted formats to increase intervention efficacy. No systematic review has examined the efficacy of different CET formats across types of SUDs.ObjectivesWe aimed to examine the efficacy of CET across SUDs and examine the efficacy of non-technology-assisted (NT-CET) and technology-assisted CET (T-CET).MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to June 2024. The efficacy of CET was inspected trough a qualitative synthesis and the quality assessment of all the included studies was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, version 2.ResultsForty-four controlled trials were identified (NT-CET; n=21; T-CET: n=23). Most studies were conducted on alcohol- and nicotine use disorders. No study reported effect sizes on craving, while one study reported a small effect of NT-CET on alcohol consumption at 6- and 12-months follow-up. Compared to control interventions, CET was found more effective in 41% of the studies that examined cravings, and in 57% of the studies that examined consumption. In these studies, there was on overrepresentation of studies that combined CET with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or CBT-related approaches. Only one study directly compared the effect of NT- and T-CET alcohol craving or consumption and found no difference up to 6 months follow-up. Among NT-CET and T-CET studies, the proportion of studies reporting significantly better outcomes than control interventions were 17% and 60% for craving, respectively, and 38% and 80% for consumption, respectively. High heterogeneity and risk of bias were found among the included studies.ConclusionsAcross the different substance use disorders, most studies found significant reduction in craving and consumption after CET. No conclusions can be made on the efficacy of CET compared to active control interventions, due to limiting reporting of effect sizes. Technology-assisted CET reported significant reduction in craving and consumption relatively more often than conventional CET studies, particularly when delivered in virtual reality. Future high-quality studies are warranted to enable more firm conclusions and quantitative synthesis.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk, identifier CRD42022308806. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf38cd1b7d1041329f955df590080032 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf38cd1b7d1041329f955df5900800322025-08-20T03:40:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-03-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15447631544763The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic reviewDaniel Thaysen-Petersen0Sigurd Krogh Hammerum1Signe Wegmann Düring2Signe Wegmann Düring3Signe Wegmann Düring4Pia Veldt Larsen5Anders Fink-Jensen6Anders Fink-Jensen7Angelina I. Mellentin8Angelina I. Mellentin9Angelina I. Mellentin10Angelina I. Mellentin11Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Hospital, Mental Health Services, Capitol Region Hospitals, Frederiksberg, DenmarkPsychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Hospital, Mental Health Services, Capitol Region Hospitals, Frederiksberg, DenmarkPsychiatric Center Sct. Hans, Mental Health Services, Capitol Region Hospitals, Roskilde, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkPsychiatric Center Amager, Mental Health Services, Capitol Region Hospitals, Copenhagen, DenmarkMental Health Services, University of Southern Denmark, Vejle, DenmarkPsychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Hospital, Mental Health Services, Capitol Region Hospitals, Frederiksberg, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkUnit for Clinical Alcohol Research (UCAR), Unit for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkBrain Research-Inter-Disciplinary Guided Excellence (BRIDGE), Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkCenter for Digital Psychiatry (CDP), Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkBackgroundCue Exposure Therapy (CET) is a behavioristic psychological intervention for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Recently, CET has been examined in technology-assisted formats to increase intervention efficacy. No systematic review has examined the efficacy of different CET formats across types of SUDs.ObjectivesWe aimed to examine the efficacy of CET across SUDs and examine the efficacy of non-technology-assisted (NT-CET) and technology-assisted CET (T-CET).MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature search in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to June 2024. The efficacy of CET was inspected trough a qualitative synthesis and the quality assessment of all the included studies was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, version 2.ResultsForty-four controlled trials were identified (NT-CET; n=21; T-CET: n=23). Most studies were conducted on alcohol- and nicotine use disorders. No study reported effect sizes on craving, while one study reported a small effect of NT-CET on alcohol consumption at 6- and 12-months follow-up. Compared to control interventions, CET was found more effective in 41% of the studies that examined cravings, and in 57% of the studies that examined consumption. In these studies, there was on overrepresentation of studies that combined CET with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or CBT-related approaches. Only one study directly compared the effect of NT- and T-CET alcohol craving or consumption and found no difference up to 6 months follow-up. Among NT-CET and T-CET studies, the proportion of studies reporting significantly better outcomes than control interventions were 17% and 60% for craving, respectively, and 38% and 80% for consumption, respectively. High heterogeneity and risk of bias were found among the included studies.ConclusionsAcross the different substance use disorders, most studies found significant reduction in craving and consumption after CET. No conclusions can be made on the efficacy of CET compared to active control interventions, due to limiting reporting of effect sizes. Technology-assisted CET reported significant reduction in craving and consumption relatively more often than conventional CET studies, particularly when delivered in virtual reality. Future high-quality studies are warranted to enable more firm conclusions and quantitative synthesis.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk, identifier CRD42022308806.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544763/fullcue exposure therapysubstance use disorders (SUDs)systematic reviewtechnology-assistedvirtual reality |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Thaysen-Petersen Sigurd Krogh Hammerum Signe Wegmann Düring Signe Wegmann Düring Signe Wegmann Düring Pia Veldt Larsen Anders Fink-Jensen Anders Fink-Jensen Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin Angelina I. Mellentin The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review Frontiers in Psychiatry cue exposure therapy substance use disorders (SUDs) systematic review technology-assisted virtual reality |
| title | The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review |
| title_full | The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review |
| title_fullStr | The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review |
| title_short | The efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders: a qualitative systematic review |
| title_sort | efficacy of conventional and technology assisted cue exposure therapy for treating substance use disorders a qualitative systematic review |
| topic | cue exposure therapy substance use disorders (SUDs) systematic review technology-assisted virtual reality |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544763/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielthaysenpetersen theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT sigurdkroghhammerum theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT signewegmannduring theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT signewegmannduring theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT signewegmannduring theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT piaveldtlarsen theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT andersfinkjensen theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT andersfinkjensen theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin theefficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT danielthaysenpetersen efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT sigurdkroghhammerum efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT signewegmannduring efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT signewegmannduring efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT signewegmannduring efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT piaveldtlarsen efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT andersfinkjensen efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT andersfinkjensen efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview AT angelinaimellentin efficacyofconventionalandtechnologyassistedcueexposuretherapyfortreatingsubstanceusedisordersaqualitativesystematicreview |