This secondary analysis of the first U.S. acamprosate trial (N = 601) for alcohol dependence examines the effects of subsyndromal psychiatric symptoms or history of severe psychopathology on alcoholism treatment outcomes and any mitigating effects of acamprosate.
Psychiatric antecedents were documented using a protocol-specific interview. Current psychiatric symptoms were assessed using Hamilton Anxiety and Depression (HAM-A, HAM-D) rating scales. Predictors of good response, defined as abstinence for ≥90% of trial duration, were identified using logistic regression.
Subsyndromal anxiety (as determined by HAM-A "Anxious Mood" item) and the presence of ≥1 psychiatric antecedent were significant negative predictors of good response. Lower pretreatment drinking intensity, baseline motivation to have abstinence as a goal, and treatment with acamprosate were significant positive predictors of good response.
No significant interactions among predictors were detected, indicating that they are independent, additive factors.
Thus, the beneficial effects of acamprosate treatment in combination with motivational therapy may offset the liabilities for alcoholism recovery that are associated with current anxiety symptoms and/or a significant past psychiatric history.
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