Effects on smoking cessation: naltrexone combined with a cognitive behavioral treatment based on the community reinforcement approach.
A promising option in substance abuse treatment is the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA). The opioid antagonist naltrexone (NTX) may work in combination with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to block the effects of smoking stimuli in abstinent smokers. Effects of lower doses than 50 mg/dd. have not been reported. A study was conducted in Amsterdam in 2000/2001 with the objective to explore the effects of the combination NTX (25/50-mg dd.), NRT, and CRA in terms of craving and abstinence. In a randomized open label, 2 x 2 between subjects design, 25 recovered spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) participants received 8 weeks of treatment. Due to side effects, only 3 participants were compliant in the 50-mg NTX condition. Craving significantly declined between each measurement and there was a significant interaction between decline in craving and craving measured at baseline. The abstinence rate in the CRA group was nearly double that in the non-psychosocial therapy group (46% vs. 25%; NS) at 3 months follow-up after treatment.
Roozen
Hendrik G
HG
Department of Clinical Psychology, Research Institute of Psychology and Health, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Van Beers
Suzanne E C
SE
Weevers
Harm Jan A
HJ
Breteler
Marinus H M
MH
Willemsen
Marc C
MC
Postmus
Pieter E
PE
Kerkhof
Ad J F M
AJ
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009426:Netherlands; D011030:Pneumothorax; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone