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Stephanie S. O'Malley, PhD; Adam J. Jaffe, PhD; Grace Chang, MD; Sarah Rode, MA; Richard Schottenfeld, MD; Roger E. Meyer, MD; Bruce Rounsaville, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996;53(3):217-224.

Abstract
Background
The goal of this study was to examine the persistence of naltrexone's effects on drinking outcomes among alcoholics following discontinuation of treatment and to determine whether coping skills therapy improves long-term outcomes compared with supportive therapy.

Methods
Eighty of 97 alcohol-dependent subjects randomized to receive naltrexone or placebo and either coping skills therapy or supportive therapy for 12 weeks were assessed at a 6-month off-treatment follow-up.

Results
Subjects who received naltrexone were less likely to drink heavily or to meet criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence than subjects who received placebo. The effect of naltrexone therapy on abstinence rates persisted only through the first month of follow-up. Coping skills therapy was associated with decreased levels of drinking among subjects who received placebo. Psychotherapy condition, however, did not predict alcohol diagnosis at follow-up.

Conclusions
Some but not all of the benefits resulting from short-term naltrexone treatment persist after discontinuation of treatment. The findings suggest that continued treatment with naltrexone may be beneficial for some patients.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn (Drs O'Malley, Jaffe, Schottenfeld, and Rounsaville and Ms Rode); Division of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass (Dr Chang); and Association of Academic Health Centers, Washington, DC (Dr Meyer).

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