An open study with acamprosate in Belgium and Luxemburg: Results on sociodemographics, supportive treatment and outcome

This open study on 614 alcohol-dependent patients from 51 centres in Belgiu m over 24 weeks collected data on the sociodemographic, medical and drug sa fety profiles and the type of psychosocial[ support most commonly associate d with acamprosate. Psychiatric problems (34%) and gastro-intestinal ulcers (15%) were the most frequent other medical diagnoses. As supportive treatm ent, 48% of patients received individual psychotherapy, 25% group therapy, 16% relapse prevention and coping skills, 9% brief intervention and 2% fami ly therapy. Fifteen (29%) centres used only 1 form of supportive treatment, 14 (27%) used 2 forms of support, 16 (31%) used 3 forms, 4(8%) used 4 and only 2 centres (4%) used all 5 supportive treatment options. Three hundred and fifty-nine patients dropped out of the study. At any moment during the treatment period, up to 11% relapsed, 9% had binge drinking and 9% had drin king lapses. The quantity of alcohol consumption during relapse, lapse or b inge drinking showed a considerable drop in the mean number of drinks per d ay, from 19.53 before treatment to 4.23-7.83 drinks for lapse drinking, 9.2 7-14.62 drinks for binge drinking and 4.96-10.29 drinks per day for relapse . All 8 dimensions of the SF36 quality of life questionnaire improved over the treatment period. Acamprosate was well tolerated by all patients. Copyr ight (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.