Substance use disorder (SUD) and food addiction represent two critical and often overlapping challenges in mental health that demand precise and effective interventions. The complexity of these disorders arises not only from their biological underpinnings but also from the intricate psychological and environmental factors that perpetuate maladaptive behaviors. Hascher and colleagues meticulously dissected a growing body of literature to identify which psychological treatments demonstrate empirical support, thereby advancing the evidence base needed to inform clinical practice and policymaking.

Central to the review is the categorization of psychological treatment methods, which encompass cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), contingency management (CM), mindfulness-based interventions, and psychodynamic approaches. Each method targets unique facets of addiction pathology, from altering dysfunctional thought patterns and enhancing motivation for change to providing behavioral reinforcement and fostering emotional regulation through mindful awareness. By evaluating these modalities across various studies, the review elucidates the relative efficacy and applicability of each treatment type in the context of SUD and food addiction.

A notable highlight of the review is the robust support for cognitive-behavioral therapy across both substance use and food-related addictive behaviors. CBT’s structured approach, which actively challenges and reframes maladaptive cognitions alongside behavioral experiments, emerges as a consistently effective intervention, leading to significant reductions in craving and relapse rates. The integration of CBT techniques into treatment protocols enables clinicians to equip patients with practical tools for managing triggers and sustaining recovery, affirming CBT’s status as a gold standard in addiction psychotherapy.

Motivational interviewing, with its patient-centered counseling style, garners particular attention for its role in enhancing engagement and readiness to change among individuals resistant to traditional treatment. By harnessing intrinsic motivation rather than imposing external pressures, MI fosters a collaborative therapeutic alliance that empowers individuals to articulate their own goals and mobilize personal resources. The review emphasizes MI’s adaptability and effectiveness when combined with other treatment methods, especially in the early stages of intervention.

Contingency management is distinguished in the review for its innovative application of behavioral economics principles to addiction treatment. By systematically reinforcing positive behaviors through tangible rewards, CM leverages operant conditioning mechanisms to promote abstinence and adherence to treatment plans. While CM shows promise, especially in managing substance use, the authors discuss challenges related to long-term sustainability and ethical considerations surrounding external incentives.

The incorporation of mindfulness-based interventions marks a transformative shift in addiction treatment paradigms, reflecting growing recognition of the role of emotional dysregulation and stress in addictive behaviors. Techniques such as mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) enable individuals to cultivate nonjudgmental awareness of cravings and emotional states, thus interrupting automatic, compulsive responses. The review highlights emerging evidence supporting mindfulness approaches as effective adjuncts to traditional therapies, particularly in preventing relapse and improving psychological well-being.

Beyond individual treatment modalities, the review underscores the necessity of integrative and personalized approaches to addiction therapy. Given the heterogeneous nature of SUD and food addiction populations, blanket treatments may fail to address specific patient needs and comorbidities. The authors advocate for the development and validation of tailored interventions that consider genetic, psychological, and socio-environmental factors driving addictive behaviors, aligning with principles of precision medicine.

An intriguing dimension addressed in the review is the intersectionality between food addiction and substance use disorders. Despite distinct substance involvement, both disorders share neurobiological pathways involving reward circuitry dysregulation, making cross-application of psychological treatments a viable strategy. The authors encourage further empirical work to deepen our understanding of these overlaps and to optimize treatment protocols that accommodate shared mechanisms and divergent clinical manifestations.

The review also identifies key methodological gaps and limitations within the extant research, including variability in diagnostic criteria, small sample sizes, and short follow-up durations. These constraints impede the generalizability and long-term evaluation of treatment efficacy. To address this, the authors call for large-scale, randomized controlled trials with standardized measures and extended monitoring to solidify the evidence base and refine therapeutic recommendations.

Another promising avenue explored is the integration of digital health technologies and telepsychology into addiction treatment frameworks. While not extensively covered in earlier literature, the review spots an increasing number of studies evaluating internet-based CBT, mobile apps for self-monitoring, and virtual support groups. These innovations offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance accessibility, personalize care, and engage underserved populations, particularly in remote or resource-limited settings.

In terms of clinical implications, the review advocates for multidisciplinary collaboration among psychologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, and primary care providers in managing SUD and food addiction. Such teamwork ensures comprehensive assessment and treatment planning that address medical, psychological, and nutritional dimensions. The authors stress the importance of ongoing training and supervision to equip clinicians with updated knowledge and skills in deploying evidence-based interventions effectively.

Crucially, this systematic literature review represents a timely response to the global public health burden imposed by addictive disorders, which continue to escalate in prevalence and societal cost. By synthesizing and critiquing treatment modalities, the review paves the way for optimizing therapeutic strategies that not only mitigate addiction’s grip but also bolster recovery trajectories and quality of life.

Looking forward, the authors propose several research directives, including exploring the neuropsychological mechanisms underpinning treatment responsiveness, investigating combinatory pharmacological and psychological approaches, and advancing culturally sensitive adaptation of therapies to accommodate diverse patient populations. Such endeavors promise to refine interventions, reduce health disparities, and potentiate recovery on a broader scale.

In conclusion, Hascher, Ossmy, and Pontes’ systematic review stands as a pivotal resource in the addiction treatment field, offering critical insights into the psychological methodologies that hold the most promise in combatting substance use disorder and food addiction. Its comprehensive scope, balanced critique, and forward-looking perspectives collectively contribute to shaping a future where tailored, effective, and accessible treatments ameliorate the complex challenges of addictive behaviors worldwide.

Subject of Research: Psychological treatment methods for substance use disorder and food addiction.

Article Title: Systematic Literature Review on Psychological Treatment Methods for Substance use Disorder and Food Addiction.

Article References:
Hascher, S., Ossmy, O. & Pontes, H.M. Systematic Literature Review on Psychological Treatment Methods for Substance use Disorder and Food Addiction. Int J Ment Health Addiction (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01553-8

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-025-01553-8

Cocaine addiction continues to impose a tremendous burden on public health worldwide, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking, relapses, and devastating social consequences. At the neural level, cocaine exerts its powerful reinforcing effects predominantly by blocking the dopamine transporter, resulting in an accumulation of synaptic dopamine and amplified activation of reward circuits. Traditional approaches to targeting this mechanism have faced significant limitations, primarily because many DAT inhibitors inherently possess abuse liability by themselves, essentially substituting one addictive substance for another. Against this backdrop, the emergence of RDS-04-010 offers a promising alternative due to its unique pharmacological properties.

Unlike classical DAT inhibitors, RDS-04-010 is classified as an atypical inhibitor, a designation that hints at a divergent mode of interaction with the dopamine transporter. This distinction is crucial because atypical inhibitors are believed to induce conformational changes in DAT that differ markedly from those triggered by cocaine or standard inhibitors. Such differences can reduce the euphoric and reinforcing effects typically associated with dopamine reuptake blockade, thereby lowering the risk of abuse. The recent study meticulously characterized these mechanistic nuances, employing a range of biochemical assays, behavioral paradigms, and in vivo neurochemical measurements to validate the compound’s unique profile.

Experimental models using rodents illustrated that administration of RDS-04-010 leads to a robust decrease in cocaine self-administration and drug-seeking behaviors. These findings indicate that the compound effectively competes with cocaine at the dopamine transporter, attenuating the drug’s rewarding effects without triggering the neuronal adaptations linked to addiction vulnerability. Intriguingly, animals treated with RDS-04-010 did not demonstrate the typical behavioral signs of dependence or escalation of intake when the compound was administered alone. Such observations underscore the therapeutic potential of RDS-04-010 as a selective modulator of cocaine-related behaviors, rather than a substance with its own abuse liability.

Beyond behavioral assessments, the research delved deeply into the molecular pharmacodynamics of RDS-04-010. Through techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and electrophysiological recordings, the study elucidated how this compound influences dopamine signaling pathways differently from typical inhibitors. Notably, RDS-04-010 appears to stabilize DAT in conformations that minimize dopamine overflow while preserving basal neurotransmission essential for normal cognitive and motor functions. This selective modulation may be vital for maintaining the integrity of dopaminergic tone during treatment, thereby preventing side effects often seen with classical DAT blockers.

The implications of these discoveries extend beyond the realm of cocaine addiction. Since dysregulated dopamine signaling is implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders—including depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Parkinson’s disease—the modulatory characteristics of RDS-04-010 could inspire new therapeutic approaches across these conditions. The low abuse potential is particularly promising because it addresses one of the longstanding challenges in psychostimulant pharmacotherapy: crafting drugs that engage the dopamine system without triggering compulsive use or tolerance.

One of the most compelling aspects of this research lies in its multidisciplinary integration. Pharmacologists, neuroscientists, and behavioral scientists collaborated to advance from in vitro receptor binding assays to complex behavioral experiments, ensuring that findings were not only mechanistically insightful but also translationally relevant. The use of sophisticated animal models that closely mimic human addiction phenotypes strengthened the validity of the results and enhanced the likelihood that these benefits will translate effectively to clinical settings.

Importantly, the researchers emphasized the safety profile of RDS-04-010 through rigorous toxicological evaluations. Unlike some psychostimulants and DAT inhibitors that can induce cardiovascular or neurotoxic side effects, this novel compound demonstrated a high margin of safety in preclinical testing. This suggests that, in addition to its efficacy and low abuse liability, RDS-04-010 could be well tolerated in human subjects, which is a critical consideration for any candidate drug in addiction therapy.

The timing of this discovery is particularly significant given the rising prevalence of stimulant use disorders globally and the current lack of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for cocaine addiction. By targeting the dopamine transporter with specificity and minimizing adverse consequences, RDS-04-010 addresses a critical gap in available treatment options. Its novel mechanism of action challenges the dogma that all DAT inhibitors inherently carry a high abuse potential, opening new avenues for drug development based on atypical inhibition profiles.

Looking ahead, the research team plans to advance RDS-04-010 into clinical trials to evaluate its safety, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy in human populations. Translating these promising preclinical findings will require careful dosage optimization, monitoring for potential off-target effects, and long-term studies of efficacy. However, the groundwork laid by this preclinical investigation establishes a solid foundation for these future steps and injects fresh hope into addiction pharmacotherapy.

Equally notable is the potential application of RDS-04-010 in relapse prevention. Cocaine addiction is notoriously marked by high rates of relapse even after periods of abstinence, often triggered by craving and environmental cues. The compound’s ability to diminish cocaine-seeking behavior in animal models hints at its capacity to suppress relapse-inducing neurobehavioral mechanisms, a feature that could drastically improve recovery outcomes if verified in clinical populations.

This research also contributes critical insights to the broader understanding of DAT structure-function relationships. By exploring how RDS-04-010 stabilizes distinct DAT conformations, the study enriches our knowledge of transporter dynamics and the molecular basis for ligand specificity. These findings are likely to catalyze further research efforts exploring DAT-targeted therapies and may inform the design of even more selective and effective compounds in the future.

Moreover, the study underscores the importance of atypical DAT inhibitors as a distinct pharmacological class. By differentiating the behavioral and neurochemical effects of RDS-04-010 from those of canonical inhibitors, the researchers highlight the potential to dissociate therapeutic benefits from addictive risks. This conceptual advancement challenges prior assumptions and motivates a re-examination of existing DAT ligands previously discounted due to abuse concerns.

The innovative approach demonstrated by this research could also inspire the development of combination therapeutics. Pairing atypical DAT inhibitors like RDS-04-010 with psychosocial interventions or other pharmacological agents might offer synergistic benefits, enhancing treatment adherence and long-term recovery stability. Future studies exploring such integrative strategies could redefine addiction treatment paradigms.

As the opioid crisis garners widespread attention, stimulant use disorders have often been overshadowed despite their significant societal impact. Discoveries like RDS-04-010 bring much-needed attention back to these challenges and demonstrate that scientific innovation continues to advance solutions across diverse substance use disorders. This work exemplifies the cutting-edge of addiction pharmacology and holds transformative potential for millions affected by cocaine dependence worldwide.

In summary, the identification and characterization of RDS-04-010 represent a monumental step forward in addiction science. By combining potent inhibition of cocaine-related behaviors with an intrinsically low potential for abuse, this novel atypical DAT inhibitor stands as a beacon of hope for future pharmacotherapy approaches. As this research progresses towards clinical application, it may well usher in a new era of safe, effective, and sustainable treatments for cocaine addiction, potentially saving countless lives and alleviating a major public health crisis.

Subject of Research: Development and characterization of a novel atypical dopamine transporter inhibitor aimed at reducing cocaine consumption and seeking behaviors with minimal abuse potential.

Article Title: RDS-04-010: a novel atypical DAT inhibitor that inhibits cocaine taking and seeking and itself has low abuse potential in experimental animals.

Article References:
Soler-Cedeno, O., Galaj, E., Klein, B. et al. RDS-04-010: a novel atypical DAT inhibitor that inhibits cocaine taking and seeking and itself has low abuse potential in experimental animals. Transl Psychiatry 15, 182 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03391-7

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03391-7