title: Reductions in Alcohol Craving Following Naltrexone Treatment for Heavy Drinking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of craving for alcohol as a response to alcohol treatment is not well understood. We examined daily diary ratings of craving over the course of 28 days among individuals participating in an inpatient substance abuse treatment program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were alcohol dependent patients (n = 100) in the Hazelden residential treatment program who were offered and agreed to take naltrexone and an age- and gender-matched comparison group (n = 100) of alcohol-dependent patients in the same program who declined the offer of treatment with naltrexone. Changes in craving over time were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The naltrexone-treated group reported a more rapid decrease in craving than the usual care group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The change in the trajectory of craving is consistent with prior reports suggesting that craving reduction is a mechanism of naltrexone's efficacy in treating alcohol dependence. Providing naltrexone to individuals seeking treatment for alcohol dependence may accelerate a reduction in their craving, consistent with a primary target of many addiction treatment programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Craving ratings by 100 residential patients taking naltrexone for alcohol dependence were compared to ratings by 100 patients who did not take naltrexone. Craving for alcohol decreased more rapidly in the patients taking naltrexone. Providing naltrexone to individuals seeking treatment for alcohol dependence may accelerate a reduction in craving, which may benefit treatment efforts.
authors.affiliation: VISN 4 MIRECC, Corporal Michael Crescenz VAMC Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine amy.helstrom@va.gov.
authors.forename: Amy W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Helstrom
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Frederick C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.affiliation: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Slaymaker
authors.affiliation: VISN 4 MIRECC, Corporal Michael Crescenz VAMC Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Henry R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kranzler
authors.affiliation: VISN 4 MIRECC, Corporal Michael Crescenz VAMC.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: VISN 4 MIRECC, Corporal Michael Crescenz VAMC Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oslin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D066249:Craving / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone