The Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) Study: main findings from two randomized trials.
This article presents the main outcome findings from two inter-related randomized trials conducted at four sites to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of five short-term outpatient interventions for adolescents with cannabis use disorders. Trial 1 compared five sessions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MET/CBT) with a 12-session regimen of MET and CBT (MET/CBT12) and another that included family education and therapy components (Family Support Network [FSN]). Trial II compared the five-session MET/CBT with the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (ACRA) and Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT). The 600 cannabis users were predominately white males, aged 15-16. All five CYT interventions demonstrated significant pre-post treatment during the 12 months after random assignment to a treatment intervention in the two main outcomes: days of abstinence and the percent of adolescents in recovery (no use or abuse/dependence problems and living in the community). Overall, the clinical outcomes were very similar across sites and conditions; however, after controlling for initial severity, the most cost-effective interventions were MET/CBT5 and MET/CBT12 in Trial 1 and ACRA and MET/CBT5 in Trial 2. It is possible that the similar results occurred because outcomes were driven more by general factors beyond the treatment approaches tested in this study; or because of shared, general helping factors across therapies that help these teens attend to and decrease their connection to cannabis and alcohol.
Dennis
Michael
M
Chestnut Health Systems, Bloomington, IL 61701, USA. mdennis@chestnut.org
Godley
Susan H
SH
Diamond
Guy
G
Tims
Frank M
FM
Babor
Thomas
T
Donaldson
Jean
J
Liddle
Howard
H
Titus
Janet C
JC
Kaminer
Yifrah
Y
Webb
Charles
C
Hamilton
Nancy
N
Funk
Rod
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009042:Motivation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000191:economics*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D014481:United States