Psychosocial interventions for alcohol use disorder in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a public health concern in China. Psychosocial interventions are a key component of comprehensive treatment. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of Chinese studies evaluating the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on AUD, and depressive and anxiety symptoms.

A systematic search was conducted across both English and Chinese databases, covering records from inception to June 10, 2025. The primary outcome was relapse rate; secondary outcomes included anxiety and depressive symptoms, assessed using HAMA and HAMD, respectively. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.3. Forty-eight studies were included (44 in Chinese and 4 in English), involving 4592 patients (2317 in the intervention and 2275 in the control groups).

Psychosocial interventions significantly reduced relapse compared to control groups [40 studies, n = 3819, OR = 0.28, 95% CI (0.24, 0.32), P < 0.001]. Psychosocial treatments also improved anxiety [13 studies，n = 1249, SMD = -1.85, 95% CI (-2.46, -1.23), P < 0.001] and depression [16 studies, n = 1694; SMD = -1.62, 95% CI (-2.13, -1.11), P < 0.001]. Funnel plots suggested a high risk of publication bias.

Evidence from studies in Chinese patients indicates that structured or standardized psychosocial interventions are more effective than routine care alone in reducing relapse and improving mood symptoms in patients with AUD. The findings support their broader integration into treatment in China, though publication bias must be considered.