Effectiveness of Psychotherapy for Addictive Disorders

Which non-pharmacological treatment approaches are effective in the addiction field according to the current state of knowledge? The answer to this question has become increasingly relevant for funding agencies and treatment providers during the last 10 years. The present article reports findings from the essential meta-analyses and guidelines on treatment of alcohol- and drug dependence and gives an overview on methodological prospects and limitations of the underlying data. According to the current evidence, especially behavioral therapy, interventions focused on family members and motivational enhancement are effective treatment approaches. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.