care doctors prescribe naltrexone
Naltrexone, a drug that blocks the effects of opiates in the brain and is now used to treat alcohol dependence, is as effective when prescribed in doctors' offices as it is when prescribed along with specialized alcoholism counseling, Yale researchers have found.
Less than 10% of persons in need of treatment actually receive naltrexone, according to a report of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Advisory Council.
Treating alcohol dependence in primary care settings is important because studies show that one in six patients or as many as one in three patients who see physicians in primary care settings are problem drinkers, the researchers say.
"Primary care (doctors) to date usually have referred out and not managed these patients themselves. These data suggest that they could," says Stephanie O'Malley, professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study published in the July issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"The major benefit of this may be to increase access to effective treatment for alcohol dependence by enlisting primary care providers into the treatment system," says Dr. Patrick O'Connor, section chief in internal medicine and senior author of the study. "These findings increase both the treatment options for patients with alcohol dependence and the ability of our health care system to address a major problem for which resources historically have not measured up to need."
This study also evaluated whether longer term treatment with naltrexone is effective for patients who respond to short term therapy. The overall benefit depended on the nature of the behavioral intervention. Continued naltrexone helped maintain improvements when used in the primary care setting; whereas naltrexone was less essential among those who received specialized counseling.
Co-authors of the study included Dr. Bruce Rounsaville, Dr. Connor Farren, Ran Wu and Jane Robinson, all of the Department of Psychiatry, and Dr. Kee Namkoong of Yonsi University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and by the Veterans Administration New England Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center in West Haven.
-- By Jacqueline Weaver
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Yale women engineers named among world's 100 Top Young Innovators
Bulldogs open season with special events
Popular International Studies major strengthened
A cappella group Shades' music proved to be fit for a king
Dr. John Krystal is appointed as the McNeil Jr. Professor
Mark Gerstein is named the Williams Associate Professor
In Focus: Women's Health Research at Yale'From Vision to Innovation' will mark fifth anniversary
Aim is to support work with 'practical benefits,' says director
Scientists tackling important women's health issues . . .
Three new recipients of Donaghue grants announced
Leading biologists will share research . . .
Weekend festival will showcase films from around the world
Event will explore the impact of colonization on women
SCIENCE & MEDICAL NEWSAstronomers trace origin of X-ray flashes
Study shows estrogen improves reading ability . . .
Research supports letting primary care doctors prescribe naltrexone
Images reveal distinct brain activity patterns . . .
'Stereotype lift' aids those not targeted . . .
Study finds no racial differences in survival rates after treatment . . .
Remembering 9/11
Memorial Services
Books in Brief
United Way's Virtual Volunteer Center links agencies and individuals
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home