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Alcohol ConsumptionPhase 4NCT00568958

Naltrexone for Heavy Drinking in Young Adults

A Phase 4 study testing BASICS counseling and naltrexone in people with Alcohol Consumption and Alcoholic Intoxication, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

In this study, 140 heavy drinking young adults (aged 18-25) will be provided with brief counseling and either naltrexone, a medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence, or placebo over the course of 8 weeks. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 25 years
What is being tested?
BASICS counseling and naltrexone
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
140 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Feb 2008to Dec 2012
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Each subject must:
  • Be between the ages of 18 and 25;
  • Report heavy drinking 4 or more times in the past 4 weeks. Heavy drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men on an occasion;
  • Be able to read English and show no evidence of significant cognitive impairment.
  • That women of child-bearing potential (i.e., who has not had a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation), be nonlactating, practicing a reliable method of birth control, and have a negative urine pregnancy test prior to initiation of treatment.

Who cannot join

  • No subject may:
  • Exhibit current, clinically significant physical disease or abnormality on the basis of medical history, physical examination, or routine laboratory evaluation, including AST or ALT levels greater than 3 times normal or bilirubin levels greater than 110% of normal. Individuals with common medical conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease) that are adequately controlled and who have a relationship with a primary-care practitioner will not be excluded;
  • Exhibit serious psychiatric illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe major depression, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, organic mood or mental disorders, or substantial suicide or violence risk) by history or psychological examination;
  • Have a current diagnosis of DSM-IV drug dependence other than nicotine, or a lifetime history of DSM-IV opiate dependence;
  • Have a current DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence that is clinically severe defined by a) a history of seizures, delirium, or hallucinations during alcohol withdrawal, b) a Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment scale (Sullivan et al., 1989) score of > 8, c) report drinking to avoid withdrawal symptoms, or d) have had prior treatment of withdrawal.
  • Have used opioids or concomitant therapy with any psychotropic drug in the past month, except that subjects who are on a stable dose of a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor for at least two months for the indications of Major Depressive Disorder, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) will not be excluded; SSRIs are allowed due to their safety profile relative to other classes of antidepressants.
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  • Have a history of hypersensitivity to naltrexone;
  • Be considered by the investigators to be an unsuitable candidate for receipt of an investigational drug.
  • The investigators may exclude participants who complete daily questionnaires on less than half of the days between intake and treatment.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Connecticut Mental Health Center - Substance Abuse Treatment Unit

    New Haven, Connecticut, 06511

Other trials in United States

About this study

In this study, 140 heavy drinking young adults (aged 18-25) will be provided with brief counseling and either naltrexone, a medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence, or placebo over the course of 8 weeks. A novel strategy will be used for administering low-dose naltrexone, in which daily dosing will be combined with targeted dosing in anticipation of high-risk situations. The main hypotheses are that daily + targeted naltrexone will result in greater reductions in frequency of heavy and any drinking compared with daily + targeted placebo.

Read the detailed description

NIAAA has designated underage drinking as a priority research area. Of note, the highest prevalence of problem alcohol use is among young adults ages 18-25. Heavy drinking that occurs during this period can have important immediate and lifelong adverse consequences. Behavioral interventions, notably BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students), have been developed to help young adults reduce their drinking. Although these interventions are effective, including with college students mandated to treatment and others with minimal motivation to stop drinking, the effect sizes are modest, suggesting that new approaches are needed to enhance these interventions. A promising strategy yet to be tested in young adults is the use of the opiate antagonist naltrexone. In other research, naltrexone has been shown to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, even in the absence of strong internal motivation to change, and to reduce the frequency of any and heavy drinking in problem drinkers seeking treatment. Thus we propose to conduct an 8 week double-blind placebo-controlled trial to test the combined efficacy of BASICS + naltrexone in 132 young adults aged 18-25 who drink heavily. A novel strategy will be used for administering low-dose naltrexone, in which daily dosing will be combined with targeted dosing in anticipation of high-risk situations. The main hypotheses are that daily + targeted naltrexone will result in greater reductions in frequency of heavy and any drinking compared with daily + targeted placebo. In order to enhance the sensitivity with which we are able to assess naltrexone's effects on drinking, daily ratings will be obtained during treatment. These will permit us to examine alternative measures of alcohol involvement (e.g., reports of subjective intoxication, estimated blood alcohol levels) in addition to the traditional measures based on number of drinks consumed. These data will also be used to examine potential mediators (e.g., craving, subjective effects of alcohol) of treatment response in order to better understand the effects of naltrexone. The durability of treatment effects will be examined at 3, 6 and 12 months after randomization. Demonstration of the efficacy of naltrexone in this population will provide the essential information needed for its adoption by college counseling centers and other health care settings committed to reducing the risk of heavy drinking in young adults.

Being tested
BASICS counseling, naltrexone, placebo naltrexone
Keywords
heavy episodic drinking, young adults, naltrexone, BASICS counseling, alcohol-related consequences, double-blind trial, randomized clinical trial
Medical subject headings
Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholic Intoxication, Alcoholism, Alcohol-Induced Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • BASICS counselingBehavioural

    Also called brief counseling, brief intervention

    Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) is a form of counseling that was developed originally for use with undergraduates. It combines three main elements: motivational enhancement strategies, skills for moderating consumption, and provision of individualized feedback.

  • naltrexoneDrug

    Also called ReVia, Depade

    Daily + targeted (i.e., taken as needed in anticipation of a high-risk situation) naltrexone, 25mg each for a total possible dose of 50mg (the FDA-approved dose for alcohol dependence) in a given day for a period of 8 weeks.

  • placebo naltrexoneDrug

    Daily + targeted (i.e., taken as needed in anticipation of a high-risk situation) placebo for a period of 8 weeks.

Study groups in NCT00568958
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
NaltrexoneExperimentalActive naltrexone (25 mg daily +25 targeted)+ BASICS counseling
Receives: Behavioral: BASICS counseling; Drug: naltrexone
Placebo NaltrexonePlacebo comparatorPlacebo Naltrexone (targeted + daily) + BASICS Counseling
Receives: Behavioral: BASICS counseling; Drug: placebo naltrexone

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Frequency of Heavy Episodic Drinking

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits. Frequency of heavy episodic drinking is measured as 5 or more drinks in a day for males, and 4 or more drinks in a day for females. A standard drink was equivalent to 0.6 gm of absolute alcohol (e.g., 12-oz beer, 5-oz wine, or 1.5-oz, 80-proof liquor). Baseline measures captured the prior 4 weeks.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Frequency of Heavy Episodic Drinking

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits.

    Frequency of heavy episodic drinking is measured as 5 or more drinks in a day for males, and 4 or more drinks in a day for females over an eight week period. A standard drink was equivalent to 0.6 gm of absolute alcohol (e.g., 12-oz beer, 5-oz wine, or 1.5-oz, 80-proof liquor).

    Measured: eight weeks

  3. Percent Days Abstinent From Drinking

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits. Baseline measures captured the prior 4 weeks.

    Measured: Baseline

  4. Percent Days Abstinent From Drinking

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits.

    Measured: 8 Weeks

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Number of Drinks Per Drinking Day

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits. Baseline measures captured the prior 4 weeks.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Number of Drinks Per Drinking Day

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits.

    Measured: 8 Weeks

  3. Percentage of Drinking to an Estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or Higher

    Self-reported drinking was primarily obtained through diary data, with the Timeline Follow-Back Interview (TLFB) used to replace missing data at baseline and at each biweekly visit over the 8-weeks.The eight weeks follow-up measure is summarized across all biweekly visits.

    BAL (Blood Alcohol Level) was estimated using data from the daily diaries based on the number of drinks consumed, the duration of drinking, and total body water (based on gender, age, height and weight) using Curtin's formula.

    Measured: 8 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Dec 2007 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2008
  3. Primary completionDec 2012
  4. Study completionDec 2012

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
140 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00568958
Sponsor's protocol ID
0706002743
Other IDs
R01AA016621, NIH grant AA016621-01
Status last verified
Aug 2018
First submitted
4 Dec 2007
Last updated
30 Mar 2020
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • O'Malley SS, Corbin WR, Leeman RF, DeMartini KS, Fucito LM, Ikomi J, Romano DM, Wu R, Toll BA, Sher KJ, Gueorguieva R, Kranzler HR. Reduction of alcohol drinking in young adults by naltrexone: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety. J Clin Psychiatry. 2015 Feb;76(2):e207-13. doi: 10.4088/JCP.13m08934.

    PubMed 25742208

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing BASICS counseling and naltrexone in people with Alcohol Consumption and Alcoholic Intoxication, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Mar 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 11 Aug 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Frequency of Heavy Episodic Drinking (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00568958, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Mar 2020.

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