title: The effect of olanzapine on craving and alcohol consumption.
abstract: Previous studies have indicated that olanzapine decreases craving after a priming dose of alcohol, that craving after a priming dose of alcohol is greater among individuals with the seven-repeat allele of the DRD4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism, and that the effect of olanzapine (a D2/D4 antagonist) is more pronounced among individuals with this allele. The present study tested the hypothesis that olanzapine may be differentially effective at reducing cue-elicited craving and differentially effective as a treatment for alcohol dependence over the course of a 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among individuals with and without the seven-repeat allele. Participants who met DSM IV criteria for alcohol dependence were randomly assigned to receive olanzapine (5 mg) or a placebo over the course of the trial. After 2 weeks of treatment, participants completed a cue reactivity assessment. The results suggested that participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the seven (or longer)-repeat allele of the DRD4 VNTR responded to olanzapine with reductions in cue-elicited craving as well as reductions in alcohol consumption over the course of the 12-week trial, whereas individuals with the shorter alleles did not respond favorably to olanzapine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0345, USA. kenth@psych.colorado.edu
authors.forename: Kent E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sandman
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swift
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003463:Cues; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C493599:DRD4 protein, human