Substance Use Disorder Co-Occurring with Anxiety and/or Depression: Evidence-Based CBT

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in lieu of current treatment as usual or the siloed system for treating Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or mental health diagnosis independently. The review examines clients who have been diagnosed with co-occurring SUD and anxiety and/or depression and are receiving treatment to help reduce substance use and anxiety and/or depression symptomology. The present research study endeavored to distinguish individual aspects that may lead to more successful treatment outcomes using CBT to treat SUD with anxiety and/or depression co-currently in one integrated treatment program. Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria for the present study. The findings demonstrated that CBT is effective in co-currently reducing SUD with anxiety and/or depression symptomology for clients seeking treatment. Of the nineteen studies, thirteen were found to be as or more effective than treatment without CBT. Many of the studies found elements that may influence outcomes with CBT treatment for SUD with anxiety and/or depression including: sample size, age, gender, race and ethnicity, severity of alcohol use and anxiety and/or depression, location of treatment center, training of staff/therapists. More research is needed on CBT treatment with SUD with anxiety and/or depression disorders looking at variables such as, cross training of staff and therapists in CBT and SUD, co-occurring treatment-based implementation programs and the hiring of more staff. The research would help to highlight evidence based research in the effectiveness of CBT treatment for SUD with anxiety and/or depression. Future research may increase funding from policy makers, stake holders, and influence decision-making at the program level with program managers and supervisors when considering a CBT co-occurring treatment program