Efficacy and Safety of Aripiprazole in Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

Dopaminergic agonists and antagonists have both been examined for the treatment of substance abuse with contrasting results. To the best of our knowledge dopamine receptor partial agonists have not been investigated in alcohol use disorders. Thirteen detoxified alcohol-dependent subjects were treated with flexible doses of aripiprazole for 16 weeks. Six patients maintained an alcohol free condition for all the study period. All the subjects experienced a reduction of craving in both OCDS (p < .05) and VAS (p < .05), and a decrease of the SCL-90 General Severity Index (GSI) (p < .05). The data of this pilot clinical study, suggest a possible role for this drug in the treatment of individuals with alcohol problems.

Keywords:

• Alcohol dependence
• craving
• dopamine
• dual diagnosis
• partial agonists

Notes

No pharmaceutical and industry support was employed in this study.