New telehealth therapy targets loneliness to curb substance use in veterans

This study tested a special type of talk therapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT) delivered over telehealth to help veterans who feel lonely and struggle with substance use. The goal was to see if the program was practical and well-liked by participants. Thirty-six veterans took part, with some receiving the loneliness-focused therapy and others receiving standard substance use therapy. The results will help design a larger study to see if this approach can reduce loneliness and substance use.