CBT4CBT web-based add-on treatment for cocaine use disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Digital Therapeutics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a chronic condition with high relapse and dropout rates.
• Web-based interventions show promise for mental health conditions and could enhance CUD treatment.
• Current web-based interventions for addictive behaviors remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of adding web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT) to standard CUD treatment.
• To assess treatment outcomes in a Spanish sample of patients with severe CUD requiring inpatient care.
• To explore predictive factors of treatment response and gender-related differences in CUD treatment.

Main Methods:

• An open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing treatment as usual (TAU) with TAU plus CBT4CBT.
• Participants received individualized psychological intervention during inpatient detoxification.
• Assessments were conducted at multiple time points, including 6-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The study is the first RCT in Europe to explore the efficacy of web-based CBT for CUD in a clinical sample.
• Results will indicate if CBT4CBT improves outcomes for severe CUD patients compared to TAU.
• Predictive factors and gender differences in treatment response will be identified.

Conclusions:

• Web-based CBT interventions hold potential for improving outcomes in cocaine use disorder.
• This research contributes novel insights into optimizing CUD treatment through digital health tools.
• Further analysis will elucidate factors influencing treatment success and inform personalized care strategies.