title: Initial response as a predictor of 12-week buprenorphine-naloxone treatment response in a prescription opioid-dependent population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Initial medication response has been shown to predict treatment outcome across a variety of substance use disorders, but no studies have examined the predictive power of initial response to buprenorphine-naloxone in the treatment of prescription opioid dependence. We therefore conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study to determine whether initial response to buprenorphine-naloxone predicted 12-week treatment outcome in a prescription opioid-dependent population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from a multisite, randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine-naloxone plus counseling for DSM-IV prescription opioid dependence (June 2006-July 2009), we conducted a secondary analysis to investigate the relationship between initial medication response and 12-week treatment outcome to establish how soon the efficacy of buprenorphine-naloxone could be predicted (N = 360). Outcomes were determined from the Substance Use Report, a self-report measure of substance use, and confirmatory urinalysis. Predictive values were calculated to determine the importance of abstinence versus use at various time points within the first month of treatment (week 1, weeks 1-2, 1-3, or 1-4) in predicting successful versus unsuccessful treatment outcome (based on abstinence or near-abstinence from opioids) in the last 4 weeks of buprenorphine-naloxone treatment (weeks 9-12).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcome was best predicted by medication response after 2 weeks of treatment. Two weeks of initial abstinence was moderately predictive of treatment success (positive predictive value = 71%), while opioid use in both of the first 2 weeks was strongly predictive of unsuccessful treatment outcome (negative predictive value [NPV] = 84%), especially when successful outcome was defined as total abstinence from opioids in weeks 9-12 (NPV = 94%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluating prescription opioid-dependent patients after 2 weeks of buprenorphine-naloxone treatment may help determine the likelihood of successful outcome at completion of the current treatment regimen.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00316277.
authors.affiliation: Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Hilary S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Connery
authors.forename: E Yvette
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Hilario
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fiellin
authors.forename: Garrett M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D013695:Temperance; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine