Opiate Dependence: Combined Naltrexone/Behavior Therapy - 1
Information source: New York State Psychiatric Institute
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Heroin Dependence
Intervention: Naltrexone (Drug); Behavioral Naltrexone Therapy (BNT) (Behavioral); Compliance Enhancement (CE) (Behavioral)
Phase: Phase 2
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: New York State Psychiatric Institute Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Edward Nunes, M.D., Principal Investigator, Affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute
Summary
The overall goal of this research project is to test a newly developed behavioral therapy to
enhance the efficacy of naltrexone maintenance and make it a viable alternative to methadone
maintenance or detoxification methods for treatment of opiate dependence. HYPOTHESES:
1. Outpatient treatment with Behavioral Naltrexone Therapy will yield a lower rate of
relapse to illicit opiates compared to naltrexone plus Compliance Enhancement (CE)
Therapy.
2. Lifetime history of depression will predict dysphoria and non-compliance with
naltrexone.
Clinical Details
Official title: Opiate Dependence: Combined Naltrexone/Behavior Therapy
Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Relapse to heroin addiction
Detailed description:
Long-term maintenance on naltrexone has proven efficacy as a treatment for opiate
dependence, but has not been successful clinically because of at least three problems: 1)
The transition from opiate to naltrexone precipitates opiate withdrawal unless the patient
has been off any opiates for at least seven days; 2) Compliance issues: patients can miss a
few naltrexone doses and begin to experience effects from illicit opiates and become
re-addicted, at which point naltrexone cannot be restarted without precipitating withdrawal;
3) Naltrexone may produce dysphoria in some patients. The proposed research study will offer
opiate dependent patients brief hospitalization for a rapid detoxification from opiate to
naltrexone, using buprenorphine, clonidine and clonazepam. If the patient has already
undergone detoxification at an outside unit, they will be assessed for opiate dependence
using the naloxone challenge. Patients will then be either discharged or entered directly
into outpatient treatment where they will be randomly assigned to either the newly developed
"Behavioral Naltrexone Therapy" (BNT), a hybrid of Relapse Prevention, the Community
Reinforcement Approach, and Network Therapy or to Compliance Enhancement (CE) therapy, a
controlled therapy intended to simulate outpatient psychiatric care. BNT employs behavioral
incentives and enlists members of the family and social network to reinforce naltrexone
compliance and abstinence. In this current investigation, for both BNT and CE, all patients
are maintained on oral naltrexone. Patients are stratified at baseline by presence or
absence of lifetime depressive disorder, which the investigators hypothesize will predict
dysphoria on naltrexone and non-compliance. Patients are discharged from the hospital, or
entered directly, into outpatient treatment at STARS at NYSPI to receive both counseling and
Naltrexone, 50 mg per day.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: 60 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion:
1. Adult, aged 18-60.
2. Meets DSM-IV criteria for current opiate dependence disorder of at least six months
duration, supported by a positive urine for opiates and further by a positive
naloxone challenge test if the diagnosis is unclear.
3. Able to give informed consent.
4. At least one significant other is willing to be interviewed for possible
participation in the treatment.
Exclusion:
1. Pregnancy, lactation, or failure in a sexually active woman to use adequate
contraceptive methods.
2. Active medical illness which might make participation hazardous, such as untreated
hypertension, unstable cardiovascular disease, acute hepatitis with SGOT or SGPT >
2-3 times normal, unstable diabetes, AIDS dementia.
3. Active psychiatric disorder which might interfere with participation or make
participation hazardous, including DSM-IV schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with mania
or psychosis, and depressive disorder with suicide risk of 1 or more suicide attempts
within the past year.
4. History of allergic reaction to naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, clonidine, or
clonazepam.
5. Currently prescribed or regularly taking opiates for chronic pain or medical illness.
6. Current participation in another intensive treatment program or currently prescribed
psychotropic medications in the last 30 days.
7. Current participation in a Methadone Maintenance program and/or regular and/or
Dependent use of street methadone.
8. Opiate-dependent individuals who are seeking methadone maintenance treatment.
9. History of accidental drug overdose in the last three years as defined as an episode
of opioid-induced unconsciousness or incapacitation, whether or not medical treatment
was sought or received.
Locations and Contacts
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, United States
Additional Information
Starting date: August 1999
Last updated: January 12, 2012
|