title: Naltrexone (50 mg) plus psychotherapy in alcohol-dependent patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcoholism is a chronic and potentially fatal disease. One of the therapeutic options is pharmacotherapy with the opioid antagonist naltrexone in combination with psychotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review was to compare the clinical effectiveness of naltrexone (50 mg/day) versus that of a placebo in alcohol-dependent patients receiving psychotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical effectiveness of the treatment was assessed in accordance with the principles of systematic review, as outlined in the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines (Cochrane Reviewer's Handbook) and the guidelines of the Polish Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AHTAPol).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical significances in favor of the treatment modality were found in both the percentage of patients maintaining total abstinence and the percentage of relapsed patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis herein demonstrates that for short (12-16 weeks) period of treatment, a combination of naltrexone administration and psychotherapy results in high clinical efficacy with a safety profile comparable to that of the placebo in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients. The side effects of naltrexone treatment are usually mild and transient.
authors.affiliation: Arcana Institute, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarosz
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miernik
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wąchal
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walczak
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krumpl
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone