INDICATORS OF GOOD PROGNOSIS IN NALTREXONE TREATMENT - A 5-YEAR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

A multicenter prospective study was conducted in Israel, in order to i dentify indicators of good prognosis of opiate dependent patients who would benefit from naltrexone (NTX) treatment. 72 israeli housing proj ect subjects who applied for treatment to government drug rehabilitati on centres were included in the study. After undergoing detoxification in outpatient settings, the subjects were randomly divided in two gro ups, each receiving two different dosages of NTX 25 mg and 50 mg, on a daily basis during six months. After the NTX treatment the sample was followed up for a 5 year period. The basic criterion for the assessme nt of clinical outcome was the retention rate. This parameter reached 61.1% at six months, a result superior to any other previously reporte d with a group of suburban opiate dependents. Successful outcome corre lated with predictors defined by stable relationships, steady job, goo d social functioning as measured by completion of compulsory military service and a later onset of drug abuse. In the NTX free follow-up per iod of 5 years, the results remained similar. The authors presume that the specific characteristics of Israeli society and extraneous factor s may also account for the good clinical results.