TIAPRIDE IN THE PREVENTION OF RELAPSE IN RECENTLY DETOXIFIED ALCOHOLICS

Background. The aim was to investigate the effect of tiapride (100 mg three times a day for at least one month) on outcome following detoxif ication. Method. The setting was a tertiary referral centre. The study design was randomised, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. One hund red routinely admitted alcohol-dependent patients were entered, and 54 completed the trial. Outcome was assessed by considering drinking sta tus at three months and six months follow-up, and by comparing psychol ogical status at intake and follow-up using the Crown-Crisp Experienti al Index, the Litman Self-esteem scale and a Satisfaction with Life Si tuations scale. We also compared performance over the six months befor e admission with the three and six months of follow-up on measures of health, social and drinking variables. Results. Tiapride proved better (usually at statistically highly significant levels) than placebo at promoting: abstinence, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life situati ons; and at reducing: alcohol consumption, use of health service resou rces, and levels of neuroticism. Conclusions. Tiapride merits serious consideration in the longer-term treatment of alcoholic patients.