Original Investigation

Behavioral Therapy as an Adjunct to Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.28529

August 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT

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What outcomes are associated with additional behavioral therapy in people with opioid use disorder receiving buprenorphine maintenance with medical management?In this secondary analysis of 4 randomized clinical trials including 869 adults with opioid use disorder, results indicated that additional behavioral therapy was not associated with additive benefit for treatment retention or functioning outcomes. No significant moderating effects were detected.These findings suggest that buprenorphine plus high-quality, low-intensity medical counseling is highly effective for opioid use disorder.

Corresponding Author: R. Kathryn McHugh, PhD, Division of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Proctor House 3, MS 222, 115 Mill St; Belmont, MA 02478 (kmchugh@mclean.harvard.edu).

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