Internet‐based interventions for young people with problematic substance use: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of randomised trials of web‐based interventions for problematic substance use by adolescents and young adults. Data sources: An extensive search conducted in February 2009 of computer databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Current Contents) and manual searches of key references. Study selection: Randomised comparisons of fully automated web‐based interventions specifically targeting adolescents and young adults (ie, typically school or tertiary students, ≤ 25 years old) versus other interventions. Data synthesis: 16 relevant studies were identified, and data were extracted from 13 of the 14 reporting on alcohol use by young adults. The alcohol interventions had a small effect overall (d = − 0.22) and for specific outcomes (level of alcohol consumption, d = − 0.12; binge or heavy drinking frequency, d = − 0.35; alcohol‐related social problems, d = − 0.57). The interventions were not effective (d = − 0.001) in preventing subsequent development of alcohol‐related problems among people who were non‐drinkers at baseline. Due to methodological differences, data from the two studies reporting on tobacco interventions among adolescents were not combined. Conclusions: Based on findings largely from tertiary students, web interventions targeting alcohol‐related problems have an effect about equivalent to brief in‐person interventions, but with the advantage that they can be delivered to a far larger proportion of the target population. Web‐based interventions to prevent the development of alcohol‐related problems in those who do not currently drink appear to have minimal impact. There are currently insufficient data to assess the effectiveness of web‐based interventions for tobacco use by adolescents.

Psychological therapies (remotely delivered) for the management of chronic and recurrent pain in children and adolescents

“…As technological advances became available, intervention delivery options expanded to personal computers via CD-ROM applications and then to programmes/applications via the Internet. The delivery of psychological therapies over the Internet is becoming more common (March 2008; Richardson 2010; Tait 2010). The potential benefits of a successful programme include improved access, improved scale of coverage, and lowered cost (Marks 2009; Palermo 2009).…”

Psychological therapies (remotely delivered) for the management of chronic and recurrent pain in children and adolescents

“…As technological advances became available to the masses, intervention delivery options expanded to personal computers via CD-ROM applications and then via Internet interventions. The delivery of psychological therapies over the Internet is becoming more common (March 2008; Richardson 2010; Tait 2010). The potential benefits to a successful programme include improved access, improved scale of coverage, and lower cost (Marks 2009; Palermo 2009).…”

Online and Mobile Interventions for Problem Gambling, Alcohol, and Drugs: A Systematic Review

“…To date, systematic reviews and meta-analyses that targeted the efficacy of online interventions for alcohol, drug, and gambling related problems included several self-help intervention formats (online, telephone, CDRoM, bibliotherapy), delivered alone or in combination, without necessarily differentiating them (for example, Tait and Christensen, 2010; McKellar et al, 2012; Tait et al, 2013; Danielsson et al, 2014; Takano et al, 2015). As such, these studies draw conclusions from a substantial heterogeneity of interventions.…”

“…Moreover, the inclusion of different types of psychosocial interventions, including preventive interventions, hinders specific observations about interventions targeting the online psychological treatment of addictions. In addition, the participants of these studies have heterogeneous alcohol/drug use and gambling habits; ranging from abstinent, recreational and non-problem users, to those presenting a risk or disorder related to alcohol/drug use or gambling (for example, Tait and Christensen, 2010; Tait et al, 2013). These different participant groups surely have different motivations for signing up for an online intervention program, thus potentially biasing conclusions drawn about the efficacy of these interventions.…”