6-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OF NALTREXONE AND PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

Background: The goal of this study was to examine the persistence of n altrexone's effects on drinking outcomes among alcoholics following di scontinuation of treatment and to determine whether coping skills ther apy improves long-term outcomes compared with supportive therapy. Meth ods: Eighty of 97 alcohol-dependent subjects randomized to receive nal trexone or placebo and either coping skills therapy or supportive ther apy for 12 weeks were assessed at a 6-month off-treatment follow-up. R esults: Subjects who received naltrexone were less likely to drink hea vily or to meet criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence than subjects who received placebo. The effect of naltrexone therapy on abstinence rates persisted only through the first month of follow-up. Coping skil ls therapy was associated with decreased levels of drinking among subj ects who received placebo. Psychotherapy condition, however, did not p redict alcohol diagnosis at follow-up. Conclusions: Some but not all o f the benefits resulting from short-term naltrexone treatment persist after discontinuation of treatment. The findings suggest that continue d treatment with naltrexone may be beneficial for some patients.