F. Petty et al., PLASMA GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID (GABA) PREDICTS OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 21(5), 1997, pp. 809-816
1. Previous studies have suggested that low plasma GABA levels (less t
han or equal to 100 pmol/ml) may characterize a subset of patients wit
h alcohol dependence. 2. In order to assess the clinical relevance of
this biologic finding, the authors followed 49 alcohol dependent patie
nts for up to 18 months following inpatient treatment. Treatment outco
me was assessed by continuous abstinence and continued contact with re
search personnel. 3. Alcohol dependent patients with low plasma GABA h
ad significantly better outcome than patients with plasma GABA in the
normal control range (101 - 150 pmol/ml). 4. These findings suggest th
at plasma GABA measures may prove to be clinically useful in identifyi
ng alcohol dependent patients at risk for relapse.