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Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder or alcoholism is a chronic physical and psychological condition that represents one of the main causes of global deterioration and mortality. Conventional interventions reveal access barriers; therefore, the inclusion of a technological resource is an alternative to improve the effectiveness and adherence to treatments. To analyze the effectiveness of technological interventions reported in the scientific literature for alcoholism. A systematic review with a qualitative and descriptive approach was carried out using the Rayyan tool and the PRISMA method for the screening, classification, and refinement of articles. The Scopus and PubMed databases were used, with MeSH and DeCS terms, boolean operators, and keywords. The CASPe critical appraisal checklists were applied to assess methodological quality. Information from six randomized clinical trials and one cohort study was selected, four of which reported higher methodological quality. The identified mobile applications included SLB, ALCO-VR, TMC, ACHESS, and SoberDiary. The digital version of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was implemented through the CBT4CBT program, and Cue Exposure Therapy was applied using virtual reality. No substantial differences were reported between conventional treatment and the implementation of technology for alcoholism. Most studies demonstrated technological resources supported by traditional CBT to improve treatment effectiveness and adherence among individuals with alcoholism; this was the foundation of their effectiveness, although no superiority in their use was indicated.
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