Budney AJ, Stanger C, Tilford JM, Scherer EB, Brown PC, Li Z, Li Z, Walker DD. (2015). Computer-assisted behavioral therapy and contingency management for cannabis use disorder. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Advance online publication. PMID: 25938629.
This randomized controlled trial compared the Computerized Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/Contingency Management (cMET/ICBT/CM) intervention with two therapist delivered treatments for cannabis use disorders. Adults with cannabis use disorders were recruited (n=75) and randomly assigned to either cMET/ICBT/CM, a therapist-delivered MET, CBT, and CM therapy (THERAPIST), or a therapist-delivered brief, motivational interviewing intervention (BRIEF). Cannabis use was assessed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3- and 9-month post-treatment follow-ups. Post-treatment, participants in the cMET/ICBT/CM and THERAPIST conditions had significantly longer durations of continuous abstinence from cannabis than the BRIEF group. While 47% and 45% of the cMET/ICBT/CM and THERAPIST groups were abstinent from cannabis at the end of treatment, respectively, only 13% of the BRIEF group was abstinent. At 3- and 9-month follow-up, relapse rates were similar across all three conditions. Participants in the THERAPIST group used cannabis on a greater percent days at 9-months compared to the cMET/ICBT/CM group.