Studies from University Hospital have provided new data on neuropsychopharmacology
2007 NOV 19 -- Investigators publish new data in the report 'The efficacy of the dopamine D2/D3 antagonist tiapride in maintaining abstinence: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 299 alcohol-dependent patients.' "In this investigation, the hypothesis was tested whether the selective dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist tiapride is effective in maintaining abstinence after detoxification in alcohol-dependent patients. The rationale of the study was based on the relevance of the dopaminergic system for addictive behaviour as well as some preliminary studies," scientists writing in the The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology report. "A multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted. A total of 299 detoxified alcohol-dependent patients (ICD-10: F10.2) received either tiapride (300 mg/d) or placebo over a 24-wk study period. Subjects with severe comorbid psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome were excluded. Primary outcome variable was the time to first relapse with relapse defined as any alcohol consumption after detoxification. Data analysis was done with Kaplan-Meier estimates with log-rank test (one-sided, p<0.05). Tiapride was not superior to placebo in maintaining abstinence. The time to first relapse was 71 d in the tiapride group and 92 d in the placebo group (log-rank test, p=0.9895). Relapse rate was higher in the intervention group (54.4%) than in the control group (40.7%). Like the dopamine antagonist flupenthixol, tiapride was not effective in maintaining alcohol abstinence," wrote S. Bender and colleagues, University Hospital. The researchers concluded: "Regarding the high success rate in the placebo group the influence of psychosocial treatment in studies investigating drug effects on the course of alcohol dependence has to be considered." Bender and colleagues published their study in The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (The efficacy of the dopamine D2/D3 antagonist tiapride in maintaining abstinence: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 299 alcohol-dependent patients. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2007;10(5):653-60). Additional information can be obtained by contacting S. Bender, University Hospital Essen, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Rhine State Hospital, Germany. The publisher of the The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology can be contacted at: Cambridge University Press, 40 West 20th St., New York, NY 10011-4211, USA. Keywords: Germany, Clinical Trial Research, Dopamine Hydrochloride, Drugs, Mental Health, Neuropsychopharmacology, Pharmaceuticals, Psychiatric, Psychiatry, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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