Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government
Veterans Benefits and Health Care About VA Find a VA Location

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

A SMART data analysis method for constructing adaptive treatment strategies for substance use disorders.

Nahum-Shani I, Ertefaie A, Lu XL, Lynch KG, McKay JR, Oslin DW, Almirall D. A SMART data analysis method for constructing adaptive treatment strategies for substance use disorders. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 2017 May 1; 112(5):901-909.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions


Abstract:

AIMS: To demonstrate how Q-learning, a novel data analysis method, can be used with data from a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) to construct empirically an adaptive treatment strategy (ATS) that is more tailored than the ATSs already embedded in a SMART. METHOD: We use Q-learning with data from the Extending Treatment Effectiveness of Naltrexone (ExTENd) SMART (N  =  250) to construct empirically an ATS employing naltrexone, behavioral intervention, and telephone disease management to reduce alcohol consumption over 24 weeks in alcohol dependent individuals. RESULTS: Q-learning helped to identify a subset of individuals who, despite showing early signs of response to naltrexone, require additional treatment to maintain progress. CONCLUSIONS: Q-learning can inform the development of more cost-effective, adaptive treatment strategies for treating substance use disorders.




Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.