title: Searching for responders to acamprosate and naltrexone in alcoholism treatment: rationale and design of the PREDICT study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcoholism represents a major public health issue and treating alcohol dependent patients remains an imminent challenge. Evidence based psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies are available. However, when administered to heterogeneous populations of patients effect sizes are only modest. We present the rationale and design of a double-blind randomized trial comparing acamprosate, naltrexone, and placebo. Additionally we subtype patients on the basis of biological and psychometric measures and explore their treatment response to both acamprosate and naltrexone. According to our initial hypothesis, the "relief drinker/craver" is an endophenotype associated with glutamatergic dysfunction who responds to acamprosate. The "reward drinker/craver" is mainly associated with alterations in the dopaminergic and opioidergic system and responds to naltrexone.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is planned for 430 patients (2:2:1 for both drugs and placebo) over 12 weeks of medication. All receive manualized counselling to improve compliance (Medical Management) which is extended to 6 months. Subtyping is primarily done using the acoustic startle reflex, functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (in a subset of patients), and the Inventory of Drinking Situations. Relapsers will be re-randomized into a second study where additional psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention) is used in a stepped care approach. Genotyping and additional analyses such as health economy are being done as well. The study follows the assessment methods, treatments, and medications used in the U.S. based COMBINE study, which will allow for a direct comparison between this U.S. study trial and a study performed in Europe.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. sucht@zi-mannheim.de
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wellek
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000328:Adult; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; D013654:Taurine; D009271:Naltrexone; D000077443:Acamprosate