Clinical predictors of outcome from an Australian pharmacological relapse prevention trial.

AIMS To assess which baseline characteristics of patients predict response to treatment with acamprosate (ACAMP) and naltrexone (NTX) in alcohol dependence. METHODS Outcome data from a 12-week randomized controlled trial of NTX, ACAMP and placebo for alcohol dependence were analysed by multiple logistic regression analyses to determine the predictive effects of gender and the baseline measures of dependence severity, craving, depression, anxiety and readiness to change in addition to NTX and ACAMP treatment. Moderators of the effect of each medication on outcomes were also examined. RESULTS Relapse was predicted by the interaction terms of ACAMP and alcohol dependence severity, NTX and depression as well as NTX and the readiness to change measure Taking Steps. Abstinence was similarly predicted by the interaction term ACAMP and alcohol dependence severity. CONCLUSION The efficacy of NTX and ACAMP in reducing relapse or lapse is influenced by different clinical characteristics.