title: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of naltrexone in the treatment of alcohol dependence in Taiwan.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of naltrexone in Taiwanese Han males with alcohol dependence. In conjunction with limited supportive psychotherapy, 40 alcoholic patients, who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version III revised (DSM-III-R) criteria for alcohol dependence, were assigned to a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of naltrexone hydrochloride (50 mg/day) for 14 weeks following alcohol detoxification. Among recruited patients, 45% (n = 9/20) of the naltrexone-treated subjects and 35% (n = 7/20) of the placebo-treated subjects dropped out (p = 0.374). The relapse rates between the two groups were not significant (p = 0.671). Subjects taking naltrexone reported less alcohol craving compared with placebo-treated subjects. In support of previous reports, the present results suggest that naltrexone may be safe and effective in craving reduction in alcohol-dependent subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chyi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chun-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jeng-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chiao-Chicy
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D009271:Naltrexone