Sweet Preference and Alcohol Craving Predict Naltrexone Response in Alcoholism

Detailed Summary

Purpose: The proposed 2-year investigation will be the first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining the hedonic response to sweet taste (HRST) as a phenotypic predictor of naltrexone (NTX) response in alcohol dependence. HRST yields two primary phenotypes-Sweet Likers (SL) and Sweet Dislikers (SDL). Based on preliminary findings, HRST will be examined in conjunction with craving for alcohol to assess whether the two factors together provide a more robust predictor of NTX response. The identification of methods to predict naltrexone response in alcohol dependence is an important goal for alcohol treatment research. Currently naltrexone is not being used nearly as much as it should be, in part because clinicians do not believe it is very effective. The development of tools that would identify which patients are more likely to have a robust response to naltrexone should lead to increased use of the medication. This could help many patients who are not now having the opportunity of trying naltrexone. There are two principal Specific Aims for the study: Specific Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that a combination of SL/SDL status and initial alcohol craving will predict % abstinent days (%ABST) during treatment with naltrexone. Specific Aim 2. To test whether a combination of SL/SDL status and initial alcohol craving predict % heavy drinking days (%HDD) during treatment with naltrexone.

Study Details

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Interventions