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What does not work? Expert consensus on discredited treatments in the addictions
John C Norcross1, Gerald P Koocher, Natalie C Fala
1From the Department of Psychology, University of Scranton (JCN, NCF), Scranton, PA; Dean's Office, Simmons College (GPK), Boston, MA; and National Development and Research Institutes (HKW), New York, NY.
This study identifies discredited addiction treatments to avoid. Experts used the Delphi method to reach a consensus on which treatments lack scientific support, guiding evidence-based practice.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Clinical psychology
- Treatment efficacy
Background:
- Evidence-based practice prioritizes effective, research-supported treatments.
- However, it often fails to identify and exclude discredited treatments.
- This gap necessitates a clear understanding of treatments to avoid in addiction care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a professional consensus on discredited addiction treatments.
- To identify treatments that should be avoided in clinical practice.
- To inform evidence-based addiction treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Delphi methodology for expert consensus building.
- A panel of 75 addiction experts participated in a two-stage study.
- Experts rated 65 addiction treatments on a "discredited" continuum.
Main Results:
- The study reports composite expert opinions on treatment discreditation.
- Significant differences in opinions were observed based on panelists' theoretical orientation.
- A foundational consensus on discredited addiction treatments was identified.
Conclusions:
- The findings represent a crucial first step in defining discredited addiction treatments.
- Results require careful interpretation due to varying expert perspectives.
- This consensus aids in refining evidence-based practices by highlighting treatments to avoid.
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