An Open-Label Trial of Aripiprazole Treatment in Dual Diagnosis Individuals: Safety and Efficacy

Abstract

This open-label study evaluated the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of 20 patients with co-morbid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder and alcohol, cocaine, and/or marijuana use disorders. Primary outcomes were substance use, measured by the Timeline Followback, and score on the Clinical Global Impression scale for psychiatric and substance use symptoms. The data suggest that aripiprazole may reduce substance use and improve psychiatric symptoms in patients with co-morbid disorders; however, limitations are noted. Subsequent randomized studies are needed to further explore these findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Aripiprazole
• dual diagnosis
• alcohol
• cocaine
• marijuana

Funding has been provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Plainsboro, New Jersey. These data were presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, June 2007, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.