A Randomized Trial of CBT4CBT for Women in Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

Women with substance use disorders face unique barriers to substance use treatment, and as a result, are less likely to seek treatment for substance use than their male counterparts. Women's residential treatment settings have been shown to have higher rates of treatment completion and better outcomes; however, relapse rates for substance use are high, with estimates ranging from 40-60%. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been identified as an evidence-based treatment known to improve relapse rates by teaching clients how to recognize and respond to their cues for substance use. Women may particularly benefit from CBT, as their relapse risk factors include depression, interpersonal stress, and relationship conflict.

Despite the effectiveness of CBT, its dissemination is hindered due to limited availability of trained clinicians, cost, and limited resources. Computer-based training for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT) offers an opportunity to improve the quality and reach of treatment services that is both feasible and cost-effective. Studies to date have demonstrated the utility of CBT4CBT in outpatient settings; however, it has not yet been evaluated as an adjunct to residential treatment for SUDs.

The specific aims are to: 1) Examine feasibility for use of CBT4CBT in a residential treatment program for women with SUDs; 2) Conduct a small RCT comparing TAU with access to the CBT4CBT program (CBT4CBT; intervention) vs. treatment as usual (TAU; control) using relapse rates and days of use as primary treatment outcomes; 3) Exploratory analyses will identify other correlates (e.g., coping strategies, depression) of relapse at 4 and 12 weeks post-discharge.