%0 Journal Article %J Drug Alcohol Depend %D 2011 %T An initial trial of a computerized behavioral intervention for cannabis use disorder. %A Budney, Alan J %A Fearer, Stephanie %A Walker, Denise D %A Stanger, Catherine %A Thostenson, Jeff %A Grabinski, Michael %A Bickel, Warren K %K Adult %K Cognitive Therapy %K Computer-Assisted Instruction %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Marijuana Abuse %K Motivation %K Young Adult %X

The most potent outcomes for cannabis use disorders have been observed with a combination of three evidence-based interventions, motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and abstinence-based contingency-management (CM). Access to this intervention remains limited because of cost and service availability issues. This report describes the initial stages of a project designed to develop and test a computer-assisted version of MET/CBT/CM that could address many of the current barriers to its dissemination. A nonrandomized, 12-week comparison study assigned 38 adults seeking treatment for a cannabis use disorder to either therapist-delivered (n=22) or computer-delivered (n=16) MET/CBT/CM. Attendance, retention, and cannabis use outcomes did not differ significantly between groups, and there were no indications of superior outcomes favoring therapist delivery. Participants provided positive ratings of the computer-delivered sessions. These preliminary findings suggest that computer-assisted delivery of MET/CBT/CM is acceptable to outpatients and does not adversely impact compliance or outcomes achieved during treatment with MET/CBT/CM for cannabis use disorders. Assessment of post-treatment outcomes and replication in randomized trials are needed to determine reliability and longer term effects. As observed in a growing number of studies, computerized therapies have the potential to increase access to, reduce costs, and enhance fidelity of providing evidence-based treatments without sacrificing and possibly enhancing effectiveness.

%B Drug Alcohol Depend %V 115 %P 74-9 %8 2011 May 1 %G eng %N 1-2 %R 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.10.014