title: Impact of treatment with intramuscular, injectable, extended-release naltrexone on counseling and support group participation in patients with alcohol dependence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : The impact of intramuscular, injectable, extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX; Vivitrol) on counseling and support group participation was examined in a post hoc analysis of a 24-week, randomized, double-blind study in 624 alcohol-dependent adults, most of whom were nonabstinent at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Patients were offered 6 monthly injections of XR-NTX 380 mg, XR-NTX 190 mg, or placebo (n = 205, 210, and 209, respectively) and 12 sessions of manualized brief counseling. Voluntary participation in extramural counseling (eg, couples or family therapy) and self-help support groups (eg, Alcoholics Anonymous) was permitted and assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : The proportion of patients attending all 12 Biopsychosocial, Report, Empathy, Needs, Direct advice, and Assessment sessions was nonsignificantly greater for XR-NTX 380 mg (45%) than for placebo (39%), as was the proportion attending extramural counseling (10% vs 7%) and support groups (13% vs 10%). Attendance rates were intermediate with XR-NTX 190-mg. Attending self-help groups was significantly (P = 0.04) related to reduced heavy drinking across all treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : XR-NTX is compatible with counseling and support group participation in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (RAC), Milwaukee, WI; University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (RAC), Madison, WI; Aurora Health Care, Inc. (RAC), Milwaukee, WI; Alkermes, Inc. (BLS, DRG), Cambridge, MA; and Matrix Alliance, Inc. (IG), Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Ron A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cisler
authors.forename: Bernard L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gromov
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gastfriend