Comparative effects of non-pharmacological interventions on anxiety, depression and quality of life in individuals with substance use disorders: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

J Affect DisordMay 2, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry

Haoran Luo, Yiman Xiong, Xianming Ding et al.

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In 30 seconds

This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety, depression, and quality of life in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Analyzing 117 RCTs with 11,177 participants, the study found that neuromodulation was the top-ranked intervention for anxiety and quality of life, while mind-body therapy ranked highest for depression. Short-term improvements in anxiety and depression were noted, but quality of life effects were uncertain.

Key findings

  • Neuromodulation showed significant reductions in anxiety symptoms compared to control.
  • Mind-body therapy ranked highest for reducing depression symptoms among interventions.
  • Quality of life improvements were uncertain, with imprecise estimates at the earliest post-intervention time point.
  • Subgroup analyses indicated varying effects based on country development level and intervention duration.

Why it matters

Understanding the comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions can guide clinicians in selecting appropriate treatments for individuals with substance use disorders, potentially improving mental health outcomes and quality of life.

Source

Published in J Affect Disord. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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AI-generated summaries may contain errors or omissions. Verify clinically important information with the original publication.

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