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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

731 questions in 61 reviews · Drugs and Alcohol

current versions
No studies 57 · 7.8%Ungraded 39 · 5.3%Very low 186 · 25.4%Low 239 · 32.7%Moderate 171 · 23.4%High 39 · 5.3%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Withdrawal symptoms at day 3: methadone versus tramadol · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted72 participantsVery low
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Withdrawal symptoms at day 3: methadone versus methadone plus gabapentin · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 40 participantsLow
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Completion of treatment: clonidine versus clonidine plus amantadine, inpatient setting · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.03 [0.86, 1.24]69 participantsVery low
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Completion of treatment: clonidine versus buprenorphine, inpatient setting · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.04 [0.9, 1.2]35 participantsVery low
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Completion of treatment: clonidine versus methadone · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
RR 2.01 [1.69, 2.38]361 participantsLow
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Completion of treatment: methadone versus tramadol · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.95 [0.65, 1.37]72 participantsVery low
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Completion of treatment: methadone versus methadone plus gabapentin · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.17 [0.96, 1.43]1 study · 40 participantsLow
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Completion of treatment: tincture of opium versus methadone · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.95, 1.05]1 study · 74 participantsLow
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Withdrawal symptoms at day 3: clonidine versus clonidine plus amantadine, inpatient setting · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted60 participantsVery low
Pharmacological detoxification treatment vs other pharmacological detoxification treatment
Withdrawal symptoms at day 3: clonidine versus buprenorphine,inpatient setting · management of opium withdrawal
Pharmacological therapies for management of opium withdrawal (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted34 participantsVery low
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Depression severity: final score (interviewer‐rated scales) · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted14 studies · 1074 participantsLow
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Response to antidepressive treatment · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.4 [1.08, 1.82]10 studies · 805 participantsVery low
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Consumption of alcohol: abstinent days (%) · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted9 studies · 821 participantsLow
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Consumption of alcohol: abstinent participants (number) · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.71 [1.22, 2.39]7 studies · 424 participantsModerate
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Consumption of alcohol: drinks (per drinking days) · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted7 studies · 451 participantsModerate
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Acceptability: dropouts · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.98 [0.79, 1.22]17 studies · 1159 participantsLow
Antidepressants vs placebo: all studies
Tolerability of treatment: withdrawal for medical reasons · people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence
Antidepressants for the treatment of people with co‐occurring depression and alcohol dependence (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.15 [0.65, 2.04]10 studies · 947 participantsLow
Cognitive‐behavioural coping skills training (CBCST) vs twelve‐step facilitation (TSF) programme to reduce alcohol consumption
Maximum number of weeks of consecutive alcohol abstinence during treatment · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 41 participantsVery low
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Decreased alcohol use · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.09 [0.62, 1.92]1 study · 110 participantsLow
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Retention · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.94 [0.78, 1.13]3 studies · 190 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing (MI) vs treatment
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 141 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing (MI) vs treatment
Number of standard drinks consumed per day over the last 30 days · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 225 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing (MI) vs treatment
Greater than 50% reduction in number of standard drinks consumed per day over the last 30 days · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.01 [0.77, 1.31]1 study · 256 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing (MI) vs treatment
Abstinence from alcohol over the last 30 days · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.57, 1.5]1 study · 256 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing (MI) vs treatment
Retention ‐ end of treatment · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.96 [0.87, 1.06]1 study · 256 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing (MI) vs treatment
Retention · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.6, 1.43]2 studies · 160 participantsLow
Brief motivational interviewing (BMI) vs assessment‐only to reduce alcohol consumption
Number of days with alcohol use · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 187 participantsModerate
Brief motivational interviewing (BMI) vs assessment‐only to reduce alcohol consumption
25% reduction of drinking days in the past 30 days · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.23 [0.96, 1.57]1 study · 187 participantsModerate
Cognitive‐behavioural coping skills training (CBCST) vs twelve‐step facilitation (TSF) programme to reduce alcohol consumption
Number of participants achieving 3 or more weeks of consecutive alcohol abstinence during treatment · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.96 [0.43, 8.94]1 study · 41 participantsVery low
Brief motivational interviewing (BMI) vs assessment‐only to reduce alcohol consumption
50% reduction of drinking days in the past 30 days · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.27 [0.96, 1.68]1 study · 187 participantsModerate
Brief motivational interviewing (BMI) vs assessment‐only to reduce alcohol consumption
or more drinking days' reduction in the past 30 days · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.67 [1.08, 2.6]1 study · 187 participantsModerate
Brief motivational interviewing (BMI) vs assessment‐only to reduce alcohol consumption
Retention ‐ end of treatment · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.98 [0.94, 1.02]1 study · 190 participantsModerate
Motivational interviewing intensive (MII) vs motivational interviewing (MI) to reduce alcohol consumption
Addiction Severity Index alcohol score · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 163 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing intensive (MII) vs motivational interviewing (MI) to reduce alcohol consumption
Addiction Severity Index alcohol score · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 163 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing intensive (MII) vs motivational interviewing (MI) to reduce alcohol consumption
Addiction Severity Index alcohol score · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 163 participantsLow
Motivational interviewing intensive (MII) vs motivational interviewing (MI) to reduce alcohol consumption
Retention ‐ end of treatment · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 17.63 [1.03, 300.48]1 study · 163 participantsLow
Cognitive‐behavioural coping skills training (CBCST) vs twelve‐step facilitation (TSF) programme to reduce alcohol consumption
Alcohol abstinence · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 2.38 [0.1, 55.06]1 study · 41 participantsVery low
Cognitive‐behavioural coping skills training (CBCST) vs twelve‐step facilitation (TSF) programme to reduce alcohol consumption
Retention ‐ end of treatment · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.62, 1.29]1 study · 41 participantsVery low
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 170 participantsLow
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 110 participantsLow
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Number of drinks per week · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 110 participantsLow
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Number of drinks per week · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 110 participantsLow
Brief intervention (BI) vs treatment
Decreased alcohol use · concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users
Psychosocial interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in concurrent problem alcohol and illicit drug users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.13 [0.67, 1.93]1 study · 110 participantsLow
Any cognitive‐behavioural treatment vs waiting‐list control
Drug use · adults with ATS‐use disorders
Cognitive‐behavioural treatment for amphetamine‐type stimulants (ATS)‐use disorders (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 210 participantsLow
Valproate vs placebo or no intervention
Benzodiazepine discontinuation, end of intervention · adults who withdraw from chronic benzodiazepine use
Pharmacological interventions for benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic benzodiazepine users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 2.55 [1.08, 6.03]1 study · 27 participantsVery low
Lithium vs placebo
Benzodiazepine discontinuation, longest · adults who withdraw from chronic benzodiazepine use
Pharmacological interventions for benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic benzodiazepine users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Lithium vs placebo
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, end of intervention · adults who withdraw from chronic benzodiazepine use
Pharmacological interventions for benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic benzodiazepine users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Lithium vs placebo
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, longest · adults who withdraw from chronic benzodiazepine use
Pharmacological interventions for benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic benzodiazepine users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded
Pregabalin vs placebo
Benzodiazepine discontinuation, end of intervention · adults who withdraw from chronic benzodiazepine use
Pharmacological interventions for benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic benzodiazepine users (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.44 [0.92, 2.25]1 study · 106 participantsVery low
Pregabalin vs placebo
Benzodiazepine discontinuation, longest · adults who withdraw from chronic benzodiazepine use
Pharmacological interventions for benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic benzodiazepine users (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studies · 0 participantsUngraded