title: Efficacy of baclofen on abstinence and craving in alcohol-dependent patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a meta-analysis in order to estimate the efficacy of baclofen on the maintenance of abstinence and the decrease of craving in alcohol-dependent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All randomized controlled clinical trials assessing baclofen for at least four weeks' treatment duration versus placebo or other comparators were included. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients who had not consumed alcohol at the end of the treatment. Measures of cumulative abstinence and indexes of craving were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to placebo, baclofen was associated with a significant increase of 179% in the percentage of abstinent patients at the end of the trial, without heterogeneity. For secondary outcome measures, based on a random-effect model, no significant effect of baclofen was observed compared to placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis brings weak support towards an efficacy of low dosages of baclofen on the maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients.
authors.affiliation: Centre régional de Pharmacovigilance de la Loire, Centre hospitalier et universitaire de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lesouef
authors.affiliation: Centre régional de Pharmacovigilance de la Loire, Centre hospitalier et universitaire de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Florelle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellet
authors.affiliation: Centre régional de Pharmacovigilance de la Loire, Centre hospitalier et universitaire de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mounier
authors.affiliation: Centre régional de Pharmacovigilance de la Loire, Centre hospitalier et universitaire de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France - EA3065, Groupe de recherche sur la thrombose, Université Jean-Monnet, Saint-Étienne, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Noëlle
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Beyens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066249:Craving / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001418:Baclofen