title: Cravings as a mediator and moderator of drinking outcomes in the COMBINE study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigators of the COMBINE (Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions for Alcoholism) study examined whether combining medications with a behavioral intervention would improve outcomes over monotherapies. Unexpectedly, the combination did not offer any advantage over either treatment alone. This study aimed to explain the lack of incremental benefit offered by the combination over either monotherapy by assessing the role of cravings as a treatment mediator and moderator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary mediation and moderation analyses of COMBINE study data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven United States academic sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 863 patients randomized to one of four treatment groups: naltrexone (100 mg/day; n = 209), the combined behavioral intervention (CBI, n = 236), naltrexone and CBI combined (n = 213) and placebo naltrexone (n = 205).
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage of days abstinent (PDA) measured between 13 and 16 weeks post-baseline. Cravings, the potential mediator/moderator, were measured at baseline, weeks 4 and 12 using the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo, naltrexone, CBI and the combination all increased PDA by an additional 6-10 percentage points for those with high cravings (P < 0.05 for all three treatment groups). None had significant effects on PDA for those with low cravings. The effects of all three treatments were mediated at least partially by cravings; craving reduction explained 48-53% of treatment effects (P < 0.05 for all three treatment groups). Furthermore, naltrexone appeared to reduce cravings at 4 weeks, while CBI did not reduce cravings until 12 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions for Alcoholism (COMBINE) naltrexone + CBI combination may not be more beneficial than either monotherapy because craving reduction is a common mechanism of both.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA; Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, CA, USA; Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Meenakshi Sabina
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Subbaraman
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lendle
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Laan
authors.forename: Lee Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kaskutas
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahern
mesh_terms: D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone
keywords: Alcoholism treatment; behavioral intervention; cravings; mediators; moderators; naltrexone