Naltrexone, Coping Skills Prevent Relapse January 10, 2002
News Summary
Researchers have determined that the drug naltrexone, along with coping-skills training, can help reduce the chances of relapse among alcoholics, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly reported Dec. 3.Brown University researchers studied 165 individuals with alcohol addiction. Participants completed a two-week daily treatment program in a partial-hospital setting, and were given either naltrexone or a placebo for 90 days. One group received coping-skills training as part of the two-week treatment program.
The research found that participants given naltrexone had fewer relapses, fewer drinks if they fallen off the wagon, and less of an urge to drink than those who received the placebo.
Furthermore, patients who received coping-skills training had fewer relapses than those who did not receive the training.
"We've known all along that pharmacological treatment for alcohol addiction is most effective when used in the context of a psychosocial program," said lead author Peter M. Monti, Ph.D., director of Brown Medical School's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and professor in the Department of Community Health. "The results suggest that individuals in alcoholism treatment get benefits from both medication and coping skills training. Where one leaves off, the other may pick up."
Since the research determined that the benefits of naltrexone did not persist after the medication was discontinued, the researchers recommended that patients remain on the drug for a longer period of time.
The study is published in the November 2001 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE: