A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Naltrexone in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence

The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 50-mg-per-day dose of naltrexone in the maintenance treat-ment of alcohol-dependent patients over a 12-week treatment period. Patients were randomized to two groups. Subjects consisted of 116 male alcohol dependents who met the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence and were seeking treatment. Patients received naltrexone at a dose of 50 mg per day or placebo in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, and were treated in an outpatient clinic, offering a weekly 0.5-hour individual coun-seling session. Days retained in treatment were measured. Overall, 71 patients (61.2%) completed the 12-week study. Completion rates by group were 79.3 % for the 50 mg naltrexone group and 43.1 % for the placebo group (χ2 = 16.01; p<0.0001). The results support the efficacy and safety of naltrexone for outpa-tient treatment of alcohol-dependent patients (German J Psychiatry 2002; 5(4): 85-89)