title: A pilot study on the effects of treatment with acamprosate on craving for alcohol in alcohol-dependent patients.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of treatment with acamprosate on craving for alcohol by using a contextual priming task with alcohol and neutral words and craving questionnaires (ACQ, OCDS) in alcohol-dependent patients who abstained from alcohol for 6 weeks. The acamprosate-treated group (n = 16) were given 666 mg t.d.s. with standard group-work aimed at abstinence. The unmedicated control group (n = 13) received only standard group therapy. The results showed that the acamprosate treated group was faster in their responses to craving-related stimuli and scored lower on craving questionnaires during week 6 compared with week 2. Our results suggest that acamprosate may play a role in reduction of craving for alcohol after 6 weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK. avivweinstein@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Aviv
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feldtkeller
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingford-Hughes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nutt
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000328:Adult; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013695:Temperance; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014825:Vocabulary
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D013654:Taurine; D000077443:Acamprosate