Please read Dr. Olfson’s article in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment titled, “Psychosocial and behavioral therapy in conjunction with medication for opioid use disorder: Patterns, predictors, and association with buprenorphine treatment outcomes.“
Current evidence indicates that pharmacotherapy is the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The strength of the evidence base is reflected in the steady shift away from the term “medication-assisted treatment” (MAT) toward “medications for opioid use disorder” (MOUD). The robust clinical trial data demonstrating the effectiveness of buprenorphine and other medications are also reflected in evidence-based recommendations that emphasize MOUD as central and psychosocial services as complementary in OUD treatment, including international Guidelines for the Psychosocially Assisted Pharmacological Treatment of Opioid Dependence. Due to extensive evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and high rates of medication discontinuation, retention on MOUD is often selected as a treatment outcome in clinical trials. To read the full article.
Psychosocial and behavioral therapy in conjunction with medication for opioid use disorder: Patterns, predictors, and association with buprenorphine treatment outcomes. Samples H, Williams AR, Crystal S, Olfson M. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2022 Aug;139:108774. PMID: 35337716 PMCID: PMC9187597 DOI: 1016/j.jsat.2022.108774 Epub 2022 Mar 18.