title: Treatment With Acamprosate in Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Alcohol Dependence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol use disorders and schizophrenia frequently co-occur with rates higher than in the general population. There is no consensus on the best treatment for patients with these comorbid conditions. Several clinical trials have shown that acamprosate is superior to placebo in reducing drinking and is particularly effective in sustaining abstinence. No study to date has examined the efficacy of acamprosate in patients with alcohol dependence and comorbid schizophrenia. The aims of this study are to assess the efficacy of acamprosate when compared to placebo in reducing drinking and to examine its effects on schizophrenic symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a double-blind, randomized, 12-week treatment trial of acamprosate versus placebo. Twenty-three recently abstinent patients with diagnosed alcohol dependence and comorbid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychosis not otherwise specified were included in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants significantly decreased their drinking during medication treatment, although acamprosate was not superior to placebo in increasing consecutive days of abstinence. There was a significant difference favoring the acamprosate group on obsessive thoughts of drinking but no significant group X time interaction. Overall, medication treatment significantly reduced positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but there were no group differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acamprosate was not more effective than placebo in reducing drinking or symptoms of schizophrenia. It can be safely used in patients with alcohol dependence and comorbid schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ralevski
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: J Serrita
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jane
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dwan
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Edens
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Bachaar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arnaout
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keegan
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.affiliation: a Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , West Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Ismene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petrakis
keywords: acamprosate; alcohol dependence; dual diagnosis; schizophrenia; treatment