BUSPIRONE IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE - A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

A double-blind controlled study of the effects of buspirone on alcohol dependence and associated symptoms in ambulatory alcoholics showed a marked improvement in both treatment and control groups. However, sign ificant differences in favor of the medication were observed in severa l psychopathological measures, but not in measures of alcohol consumpt ion. Contrary to a majority of prior controlled trials of buspirone in alcoholics, subjects were not selected on the basis of comorbid gener alized anxiety; rather, the study tested the hypothesis of a direct ef fect on craving and consumption, independent from an anxiolytic effect This hypothesis was not confirmed.