A relational agent for treating substance use in adults: A randomized controlled trial with a psychoeducational comparator.
Judith J Prochaska, Maggie Wang, Amy Chieng et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of the Woebot for Substance Use Disorders (W-SUD) app in reducing substance use occasions among U.S. adults with problematic substance use. The study involved 258 participants and found no significant treatment effect between W-SUD and a psychoeducational control, with both groups showing moderate to large reductions in substance use at the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up.
Key findings
- Both W-SUD and psychoeducation groups showed a within-group change of -13.6 and -12.9 past-month substance use occasions, respectively.
- No significant treatment effect was observed between W-SUD and psychoeducation (beta = -0.675, p = 0.741).
- Decreases in substance use occasions correlated with reductions in anxiety and depression across both groups.
- Participants sent a median of 322.5 in-app messages during the W-SUD intervention.
Why it matters
Digital mental health interventions like W-SUD may provide accessible support for individuals with substance use issues. Understanding their efficacy compared to traditional methods is crucial for integrating technology into treatment strategies.