Naltrexone's Effect on Cue-Elicited Craving Among Alcoholics in Treatment
Corresponding Author
Peter M. Monti
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Reprint requests: Peter M. Monti, Ph.D., Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Box G-BH, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; Fax: 401-444-1888; E-mail: mailto:[email protected]Search for more papers by this authorDamaris J. Rohsenow
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorKent E. Hutchison
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorRobert M. Swift
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorTimothy I. Mueller
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorSuzanne M. Colby
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorRichard A. Brown
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorSuzy B. Gulliver
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorAlan Gordon
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorDavid B. Abrams
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Peter M. Monti
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Reprint requests: Peter M. Monti, Ph.D., Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Box G-BH, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; Fax: 401-444-1888; E-mail: mailto:[email protected]Search for more papers by this authorDamaris J. Rohsenow
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorKent E. Hutchison
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorRobert M. Swift
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorTimothy I. Mueller
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorSuzanne M. Colby
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorRichard A. Brown
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorSuzy B. Gulliver
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorAlan Gordon
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorDavid B. Abrams
From Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University (P.M.M., D.J.R., R.M.S.); Brown University (K.E.H., T.I.M., S.M.C., R.A.B., S.B.G., A.G.); and Miriam Hospital (D.B.A.), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background: Advancing knowledge of biobehavioral effects of interventions can result in improved treatments. Thus, a standardized laboratory cue reactivity assessment has been developed and validated to assess the cognitive and psychophysiological responses to a simulated high-risk situation: alcohol cues. The present study investigates the effects of a pharmacotherapy (naltrexone) on a laboratory-based, cue-elicited urge to drink among abstinent alcoholics in treatment.
Methods: Alcohol-dependent subjects were randomized to 12 weeks of naltrexone or placebo after completing a partial hospital program. After ∼ 1 week on medication, all received cue reactivity assessment.
Results: Significantly fewer patients taking naltrexone reported any urge to drink during alcohol exposure than did those on placebo. Those with any urges reported no decrement in level of the urges. Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly for those on placebo, but not for those on naltrexone, whereas cue-elicited decreases in heart rate were not affected by the medication.
Conclusions: The results have implications for models of relapse and naltrexone's effects. Cue reactivity methodology has utility for investigating hypothesized mediators of therapeutic effects of pharmacotherapies as well as behavioral treatments.
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