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Aims Behavior couples therapy (BCT) is widely considered to be effective in the treatment of substance use disorders. However, the effect size of BCT in different outcome measures, and at different time points requires further study to prove it. Methods Systematic searches were performed in various databases. Ultimately, we identified 12 studies, involving 19 randomized controlled trials. We used Hedges' g as the effect size, and all pooled analyses were performed using random-effects models. Results After treatment, BCT was superior to control conditions (either an active or inactive control group) in frequency of substance use (g  = 0.17), substance use consequences (g  = −0.28) and relationship satisfaction (g  = 0.45). After a 12-month follow-up, BCT remained superior to control conditions in frequency of substance use (g  = 0.32), substance use consequences (g  = −0.34) and relationship satisfaction (g  = 0.31). In addition, BCT was more effective in reducing the frequency of substance use than individual-based treatment (IBT) (g  = 0.23). There was no significant relationship between the effect size of BCT and publication year (t  = 0.92, P  = 0.372), percentage of females (t  = −0.02, P  = 0.987) or the number of treatment sessions (t  = −0.52, P  = 0.609). Conclusions BCT was superior to the control conditions in all three outcome measures after treatment and at follow-up, and showed a relatively large effect size for relationship satisfaction. Moreover, BCT was superior to IBT in reducing the frequency of substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides the first systematic and quantitative synthesis of the literature examining the relationship between binge drinking, cognition, brain structure and function in youth aged 10 to 24 years. PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, PsychINFO and ProQuest were searched for neuroimaging, neurophysiological, and neuropsychological studies. A total of 58 studies (21 neuroimaging, 16 neurophysiological, 21 neuropsychological) met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Overall, abnormal or delayed development of key frontal executive-control regions may predispose youth to binge drink. These abnormalities appear to be further exacerbated by the uptake of binge drinking, in addition to alcohol-related neural aberrations in reward-seeking and incentive salience regions, indexed by cognitive deficits and maladaptive alcohol associations. A meta-analysis of neuropsychological correlates identified that binge drinking in youth was associated with a small overall neurocognitive deficit (g = −0.26) and specific deficits in decision-making (g = −1.70), and inhibition (g = −0.39). Using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence Profile, the certainty in outcomes ranged from very low to low. Future prospective longitudinal studies should address concomitant factors, exposure thresholds, and age-related vulnerabilities of binge drinking, as well as the degree of recovery following discontinuation of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]