Table 1.
Characteristics of Trials Included in the Meta-analysis and Demographic Summary of Participants in the Trials.
| Naltrexone | Acamprosate | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial characteristics | |||
| Number of trialsa | 34 | 20 | 54 |
| Duration of treatment, weeks, median (range) | 12 (4 – 24) | 24 (12 – 48) | 12 (4 – 48) |
| Publication year, median (range) | 2003 (1992–2011) | 1997 (1985–2011) | 2001.5 (1985–2011) |
| Geographic location, no. (%) | |||
| USA | 21 (61.8) | 1 (5.0) | 22 (40.7) |
| Europe | 5 (14.7) | 16 (80.0) | 21 (38.9) |
| USA and Europe | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Australia | 3 (8.8) | 2 (10.0) | 5 (9.3) |
| Brazil | 2 (5.9) | 1 (5.0) | 3 (5.6) |
| Singapore | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Iran | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Diagnostic criteria, no. (%) | |||
| DSM-IV | 23 (67.6) | 4 (20.0) | 27 (50.0) |
| DSM-III-R | 9 (26.5) | 6 (30.0) | 15 (27.8) |
| DSM-III | 0 (0.0) | 7 (35.0) | 7 (13.0) |
| ICD-10 | 1 (2.9) | 1 (5.0) | 2 (3.7) |
| Not specified | 1 (2.9) | 2 (10.0) | 3 (5.6) |
| Outpatient settingb | 33 (97.1) | 20 (100.0) | 53 (98.1) |
| Single site | 22 (64.7) | 3 (15.0) | 25 (46.3) |
| All participants with comorbid conditions | 5 (14.7) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (9.3) |
| Behavioral platformc | |||
| High intensity | 22 (64.7) | 4 (20.0) | 26 (48.1) |
| Low intensity | 12 (35.3) | 11 (55.0) | 23 (42.6) |
| Not specified | 0 (0.0) | 5 (25.0) | 5 (9.3) |
| Endpoints reported, no. (%) | |||
| Percent days abstinent | 23 (67.6) | 15 (75.0) | 38 (70.4) |
| Total abstinence | 24 (70.6) | 20 (100.0) | 44 (81.5) |
| Percent days without heavy drinking | 16 (47.1) | -- | -- |
| Abstinence from heavy drinking | 27 (79.4) | -- | -- |
| Participant characteristics | |||
| Total participants | 4878 | 5514 | 10392 |
| Age, year, mean (SD) | 44.4 (9.1) | 43.0 (9.5) | 43.7 (9.3) |
| % Male, mean (SD) | 77.7 (16.9) | 79.0 (6.6) | 78.3 (12.5) |
| % Married, mean (SD)d | 42.8 (13.8) | 56.9 (11.2) | 49.9 (14.4) |
| % Employed, mean (SD)e | 67.6 (17.3) | 64.6 (7.9) | 66.1 (13.5) |
no., number; SD, standard deviation.
Each of three trials involving both naltrexone and acamprosate treatment arms was treated as two separate trials in the analysis.
1 naltrexone trial and 3 acamprosate trials indicated that the medication treatment was initiated before the patients were discharged from the inpatient care.
High intensity behavioral platform included cognition/skills therapies and 12-step facilitation, and low intensity behavioral platform included motivational therapies, compliance based therapies, and treatment as usual.
Data missing from 7 naltrexone trials and 7 acamprosate trials.
Data missing from 12 naltrexone trials and 12 acamprosate trials.