Overview of the expert consensus on the digital therapeutics in addictive-related disorders

Abstract

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. View this table: Table 1 Summary of the recommendations in the consensus 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 …