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Previous studies have looked into how psychosocial treatments for alcohol dependence influence Quality of Life measures. On this new study, however, the effects of pharmacotherapy, particularly that of the administration of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) on QOL scores. The study found substantial improvements in the patients’ quality of life in various areas including their mental and general health and social and physical functioning. The results of the said study are expected to come out in the February 2009 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

XR-NTX is an injectible medication administered once a month as treatment for alcohol dependence. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006. The drug also comes in daily oral doses of 50-100mg.

“Alcohol dependence is a chronic and disabling disorder,” says psychology professor and treatment research director Helen M. Pettinati of the department of Psychology at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. “Heavy drinking is associated with broad impairments in health-related QOL, with the largest impact typically found for mental health and social functioning.”

According to Pettinati, while there is a significant difference in the dosage amount that a patient takes every month when he takes the injectible as compared to the daily medication, the efficacy of Naltrexone doesn’t appear to be compromised. The professor attributed this to the possible differences in formulation between the two types of alcohol dependence medication.

What the researchers are really after is determining whether or not changing a patient’s drinking habits can also affect his quality of life. According to Allen Zweben, professor and associate dean for academic affairs and research in the school of social work at Columbia University, “Pharmacotherapy has never really looked at QOL vis-a-vis drinking behavior, but it would seem that the FDA is interested in learning how people’s changes in drinking can have an impact on their QOL. There’s an implication that QOL changes naturally, but in this study by Dr. Pettinati actually looked at and measured QOL as a factor.”

The study found that before Naltrexone treatment, alcohol dependent manifested an impaired QOL relative to population norms particularly in mental health and in their social functioning. It also found that there was a significant improvement in QOL among subjects to which the monthly medication was administered. Finally, the study found that alcohol intake was considerably reduced.

Zweben believes that the findings of the study supports the idea that medication and psychotherapy for alcohol dependence treatment actually work. Medication has become an available option for many people suffering from this condition.

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