Background
Addictive disorders have gained worldwide attention. The Chinese Association of Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, along with the consensus panel on digital therapeutics (DTx) for addictive disorders, has published an expert consensus on DTx for addictive disorders.1 This consensus discusses and summarises the current research and application status of DTx for addictive disorders. It identifies its clinical value, application directions, research and development principles, and future prospects. As the consensus is published in Chinese, it may not be easily accessible to an international audience. To address this, we present here an overview of the expert consensus on DTx for addictive disorders in China. The recommendations from the consensus are summarised in table 1.
Substance-related and addictive disorders have a significant impact on both physical and mental health and represent a contributing factor to crime.2 According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, substance-related and addictive disorders refer to a broad range of substance-related disorders involving 10 distinct classes of drugs, including opioids, methamphetamines and alcohol.3 The detoxification process for substance-related and addictive disorders consists of three phases: physiological recovery to relieve withdrawal symptoms, psychological rehabilitation to reduce mental dependence and social function restoration to facilitate reintegration into daily life. The second phase, psychological rehabilitation, is often the most challenging.4 Conventional treatments such as pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and physical therapy face various limitations, including limited effectiveness, a shortage of skilled professional staff, high costs, long treatment duration and high dropout rates.5 DTx, driven by recent digital advancements, have emerged as a potential solution to these challenges. They are convenient, easy to implement and affordable, addressing the uneven distribution of conventional healthcare resources.
DTx refer to digital technology measures supported by evidence-based medicine and driven by software and algorithms for the treatment, prevention, screening, evaluation and management of diseases.5 They have shown effectiveness in treating substance addictions and behavioural addictions.6 DTx for substance addictions are used in a variety of settings, including community rehabilitation centres and prisons. DTx can be used at different stages of intervention, from prevention education and treatment to follow-up management. Moreover, DTx can be used alone or alongside conventional treatment methods.7 DTx products, including reSET and reSET-O from Pear Therapeutics, as well as China’s ‘Happy Quit’, have been successfully applied to treat various addictive disorders.7 8
However, DTx for addictive disorders face several challenges. First, the efficacy of some DTx products is not established, requiring evaluation following evidence-based principles in randomised controlled trials. Second, DTx products may encounter issues with poor patient adherence. Third, there is a lack of research and development industry standards for DTx products. Lastly, the collection and processing of large amounts of data by DTx products raise concerns regarding information security and privacy.