Follow-up of 180 Alcoholic Patients for up to 7 Years After Outpatient Treatment: Impact of Alcohol Deterrents on Outcome

[Patient and quality characteristics in the treatment with disulfiram (Antabus) in the German "Network for Alcohol Aversive Pharmacotherapy"]

BACKGROUND

More than a decade ago disulfiram lost its approval for use in Germany. Nonetheless, a considerable number of psychiatric hospital outpatient departments as well as practicing physicians continue to prescribe it. These professionals have formed the "Network for Alcohol Aversive Pharmacotherapy" (NAP) to maintain a high quality of this treatment approach.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the current use of disulfiram with respect to patient numbers and characteristics, side effects, and use of concomitant multimodal treatment forms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Since 2019 the NAP has conducted an annual retrospective survey among its members regarding the aforementioned parameters.

RESULTS

From 2019 to 2023 a total of 1579 treatment cases were described by 33 centers, 152 patients reported a total of 241 drinking events, 26 of them resulting in hospitalization but none causing complications or permanent harm. The most frequent side effects, in descending order, were unpleasant body odor (2.5%), fatigue, male sexual dysfunction, mildly elevated liver enzymes, allergic skin reactions and polyneuropathy (0.8%). More than one quarter of the patients suffered from comorbid depression, and approximately 5% from ADHD, borderline or other personality disorders, trauma-related disorders and anxiety disorders, respectively. Of the patients 33% were treated with antidepressants and 12% with sedating antipsychotics. Various forms of concomitant group therapy were offered to 66% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with disulfiram is legally possible, generally well-tolerated and safe. It is offered in most treatment centers as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes multimodal treatment of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Disulfiram Should Remain Second-line Treatment for Most Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is responsible for a significant burden of medical, economic, and social harm globally and across the United States. Currently, only three FDA-approved medications for AUD are available, and most patients with AUD never receive pharmacotherapy. Disulfiram, the first medication that FDA approved for treatment of AUD, is recommended as a second-line treatment option by several national treatment guidelines citing safety concerns and lack of high-quality comparative studies. In this issue, Holt argues that disulfiram should be reclassified as a first-line treatment for AUD based on promising open-label randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for disulfiram as a behavioral intervention. Review of the literature suggests that disulfiram can be a useful treatment for a highly selected group of patients with no medical or psychiatric contraindications, high motivation for abstinence, and adequate family support. Unfortunately, many patients with AUD, a disorder characterized by high rates of medical and psychiatric multimorbidity and social vulnerability, fall outside of this narrow selection criteria. Prescribers should consider other FDA-approved medications as first-line treatment options for most patients with AUD, reserving disulfiram for the rare patients in whom the potential for benefit clearly outweighs risk of harm.

Patient Perspectives on Pharmacotherapy of Alcohol Dependence

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacotherapy with drugs like naltrexone or acamprosate is a well-evaluated element in the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD). However, in many countries, these medications are rarely administered. The objective of the present study was to identify from patients' perspective factors that prevent the initiation and compliance with pharmacological treatment of AD.

METHODS

Patients from inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment underwent a standardized interview. Questions included socio-demographic data, history of AD, treatment history, knowledge and personal experience regarding pharmacotherapy of AD, and personal views about the causes of AD.

RESULTS

Three hundred patients (mean age 47.3 years, 27.7% female, mean duration of AD 8.9 years, 67% with a history of previous inpatient withdrawal treatment) were included. The majority of patients (58.7%) already knew drugs for the pharmacotherapy of AD. Thirty percent had ever used such medications, most often acamprosate. Except for disulfiram, pharmacotherapy of AD had lasted only a few weeks, on average. Medication usually had been applied without additional psychotherapy. No severe side effects were reported. Patients had often stopped pharmacotherapy on their own, when assuming they had reached stable abstinence. Openness to start pharmacotherapy for AD was currently stated by 67% of the total sample. In multiple logistic regression, openness was predicted by having a concept of AD as a medical disease and by a shorter duration of AD.

DISCUSSION

To improve the administration of pharmacotherapy for AD implementation strategies should be systematically developed and evaluated with a focus on the concept of AD as a medical disease.

Sex differences in ethanol consumption and drinking despite negative consequences following adolescent social isolation stress in male and female rats

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder characterized by drinking despite negative social and biological consequences. AUDs make up 71% of substance use disorders, with relapse rates as high as 80%. Current treatments stem from data conducted largely in males and fail to target the psychological distress motivating drinking in stress-vulnerable and at-risk populations. Here we employed a rat model and hypothesized that early life stress would reveal sex differences in ethanol intake and drinking despite negative consequences in adulthood. Rats were group housed or isolated postweaning to evaluate sex and stress effects on ethanol consumption in homecage drinking, self-administration (SA), and punished SA (drinking despite negative consequences) in adulthood. Stressed rats showed elevated homecage ethanol intake, an effect more pronounced in females. During SA, males were more sensitive to stress-induced elevations of drinking over time, but females drank more overall. Stressed rats, regardless of sex, responded more for ethanol than their non-stressed counterparts. Stressed females showed greater resistance to punishment-suppressed SA than stressed males, indicating a more stress-resistant drinking phenotype. Results support our hypothesis that adolescent social isolation stress enhances adult ethanol intake in a sex- and model-dependent manner with females being especially sensitive to early life stress-induced elevations in ethanol intake and punished SA in adulthood. Our findings echo the clinical literature which indicates that stress-vulnerable populations are more likely to 'self-medicate' with substances. Elucidating a potential mechanism that underlies why vulnerable populations 'self-medicate' with alcohol can lead towards developing catered pharmacotherapeutics that could reduce punishment-resistant drinking and relapse.

Anticancer effects of disulfiram in T-cell malignancies through NPL4-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway

T-cell malignancies, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoma (TCL), are characterized by inferior treatment effects, high heterogeneity, poor prognosis, and a lack of specific therapeutic targets and drugs to improve outcome. Disulfiram (DSF) is a drug used to clinically control alcoholism that has recently been shown to be cytotoxic for multiple cancers. However, the underlying effects and mechanisms of DFS treatment in patients with T-cell malignancies are not well characterized. In this study, we report that DSF promotes apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of malignant T-cell cell lines and primary T-ALL cells. We provide evidence that DSF exerts anticancer activity in T-cell malignancies by targeting the NPL4-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Notably, high expression of NPL4 and 2 ubiquitin-proteasome pathway genes, anaphase-promoting complex subunit 1 (ANAPC1) and proteasome 26S subunit ubiquitin receptor, non-ATPase 2 (PSMD2), was significantly associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) for patients with TCL and T-ALL (p < 0.05). More importantly, the weighted combination of NPL4, ANAPC1, and PSMD2 could visually display the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates for patients with T-cell malignancies in a nomogram model and facilitate risk stratification. Specifically, risk stratification was an independent predictor of OS for patients with T-cell malignancies. In conclusion, DSF might induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of malignant T-cells via the NPL4-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and offer a potential therapeutic option for T-cell malignancies.

First study of safety and tolerability of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in patients with alcohol use disorder

BACKGROUND

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) therapy has qualities that make it potentially well suited for patients with addictions, but this has never been explored in a research study. We present data from the Bristol Imperial MDMA in Alcoholism (BIMA) study. This is the first MDMA addiction study, an open-label safety and tolerability proof-of-concept study investigating the potential role for MDMA therapy in treating patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

AIMS

This study aimed to assess if MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can be delivered safely and can be tolerated by patients with AUD post detoxification. Outcomes regarding drinking behaviour, quality of life and psychosocial functioning were evaluated.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with AUD completed a community alcohol detoxification and received an eight-week course of recovery-based therapy. Participants received two sessions with MDMA (187.5 mg each session). Psychological support was provided before, during and after each session. Safety and tolerability were assessed alongside psychological and physiological outcome measures. Alcohol use behaviour, mental well-being and functioning data were collected for nine months after alcohol detoxification.

RESULTS

MDMA treatment was well tolerated by all participants. No unexpected adverse events were observed. Psychosocial functioning improved across the cohort. Regarding alcohol use, at nine months post detox, the average units of alcohol consumption by participants was 18.7 units per week compared to 130.6 units per week before the detox. This compares favourably to a previous observational study (the 'Outcomes' study) by the same team with a similar population of people with AUD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides preliminary support for the safety and tolerability of a novel intervention for AUD post detox. Further trials to examine better the therapeutic potential of this approach are now indicated.

Targeting cancer stem cells by disulfiram and copper sensitizes radioresistant chondrosarcoma to radiation

Overcoming the radiosensitivity of chondrosarcoma (CS), the second most common primary bone tumor, is needed. Radioresistance is attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs) in many malignancies. Disulfiram (DSF), an FDA-approved anti-alcoholism drug, complexed with Cu (DSF/Cu) can radiosensitize epithelial CSCs. This prompted us to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of DSF/Cu on CS CSCs (CCSCs). The radiosensitizing effects of DSF/Cu on CCSCs were investigated in vitro using cell lines SW1353 and CS-1. Stemness was identified independently by flow cytometry for CCSCs (ALDH⁺CD133⁺), sphere-forming ability, and Western blot analysis of stemness gene protein expression. The radiosensitizing effect of DSF/Cu was studied in an orthotopic CS xenograft mouse model by analyzing xenograft growth and residual xenografts for stemness. CCSCs were found to be resistant to single-dose (IR) and fractionated irradiation (FIR). IR and FIR increased CS stemness. Combined with DSF/Cu in vitro and in vivo, IR and FIR eliminated CS stemness. RT + DSF/Cu was safer and more effective than either RT ± DSF in inhibiting growth of orthotopic CS xenografts. In conclusion, DSF/Cu radiosensitizes CCSCs. These results can be translated into clinical trials for CS patients requiring RT for improved outcomes.

Delta resting-state functional connectivity in the cognitive control network as a prognostic factor for maintaining abstinence: An eLORETA preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Cortical regions that support cognitive control are increasingly well recognized, but the functional mechanisms that promote such control over emotional and behavioral hyperreactivity to alcohol in recently abstinent alcohol-dependent patients are still insufficiently understood. This study aimed to identify neurophysiological biomarkers of maintaining abstinence in alcohol-dependent individuals after alcohol treatment by investigating the resting-state EEG-based functional connectivity in the cognitive control network (CCN).

METHODS

Lagged phase synchronization between CCN areas by means of eLORETA as well as the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were assessed in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients recruited from treatment centers. A preliminary prospective study design was used to classify participants into those who did and did not maintain abstinence during a follow-up period (median 12 months) after discharge from residential treatment.

RESULTS

Alcohol-dependent individuals, who maintained abstinence (N = 18), showed significantly increased lagged phase synchronization between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the left posterior parietal cortex (IPL) as well as between the right anterior insula cortex/frontal operculum (IA/FO) and the right inferior frontal junction (IFJ) in the delta band compared to those who later relapsed (N = 16). Regression analysis showed that the increased left frontoparietal delta connectivity in the early period of abstinence significantly predicted maintaining abstinence over the ensuing 12 months. Furthermore, right frontoinsular delta connectivity correlated negatively with impulsivity and depression measures.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the increased delta resting-state functional connectivity in the CCN may be a promising neurophysiological predictor of maintaining abstinence in individuals with alcohol dependence.

Homeless people under the influence of alcohol admitted to hospital emergency departments in Poland

Aim:

To assess the incidence of diagnoses related to alcohol use in the population of homeless people admitted to hospital emergency departments (EDs).

Material and method:

Data were analysed from three hospitals concerning stays of homeless people in three EDs in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2013–2015; 3133 stays were identified. The data were compiled using Microsoft Excel and Statistica 10 statistical software.

Results:

At the time of admission to EDs, 31% of homeless people were considered to be under the influence of alcohol. Diagnoses related to alcohol use accounted for 25% of all diagnoses. The average blood alcohol concentration in the patients was 2.97 per mille. The average blood alcohol concentration in the group of men was significantly higher than that in the group of women (p = 0.015). The average length of stay in the ED of patients under the influence of alcohol was significantly longer (p < 0.0001) than among sober patients.

Conclusions:

Homeless people under the influence of alcohol account for a third of the population of homeless patients admitted to hospital emergency departments, while alcohol-related ICD-10 diagnoses account for a fourth of all diagnoses in these patients. Homeless patients under the influence of alcohol stay longer in hospital emergency departments than do sober homeless people, which may translate into more frequent acts of aggression towards medical personnel. In Poland there are no systemic ED-level solutions as regards dealing with homeless patients for whom alcohol dependence is in many cases a reality.

Nutritional Care of Patients Admitted to Hospital for Alcohol Withdrawal: A 5-Year Retrospective Audit

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and the nutritional approaches implemented with patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of medical records for patients admitted to a tertiary hospital for alcohol withdrawal was completed over a 5-year period 2013-2017. Data on nutrition-related assessment and management were extracted and descriptively analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 109 medical records were included (M = 73, F = 36), with the mean age of patients 47.3 years (SD ± 11.2, range 22-70). The average length of stay was 3.7 days (SD ± 3.9, range 0.70-27.8). Approaches towards nutritional care emerged from micronutrient assessment and supplementation and/or dietetic consultation. Nutrition-related biochemistry data was available for most patients, notably serum levels of sodium, urea and creatinine (102 patients; 93.5%) and magnesium and phosphate (66 patients, 60.5%). There was evidence of some electrolyte abnormalities on admission to hospital. Eight patients had serum micronutrient status assessed; no patients had serum thiamine levels assessed. Parenteral thiamine was provided to 96 patients (88.0%) for 1.9 days (SD ± 1.1, range 1.0-6.0) with a mean dose of 2458.7 mg (SD ± 1347.6, range 300-6700 mg). Multivitamin supplementation was provided to 24 patients (22.0%). Only 23 patients (21.2%) were seen by a dietician of whom 16 underwent a comprehensive nutritional assessment and 3 were screened using the malnutrition screening tool.

CONCLUSION

Inconsistent nutritional assessment and management practices were identified across a diverse population group, whilst nutritional professionals were underutilized. Future research should benchmark current guidelines and multidisciplinary approaches considering the role of nutritional specialists in the team.

Repurposing Disulfiram as An Anti-Cancer Agent: Updated Review on Literature and Patents

BACKGROUND

Despite years of success of most anti-cancer drugs, one of the major clinical problems is inherent and acquired resistance to these drugs. Overcoming the drug resistance or developing new drugs would offer promising strategies in cancer treatment. Disulfiram, a drug currently used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, has been found to have anti-cancer activity.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the anti-cancer effects of Disulfiram through a thorough patent review.

METHODS

This article reviews molecular mechanisms and recent patents of Disulfiram in cancer therapy.

RESULTS

Several anti-cancer mechanisms of Disulfiram have been proposed, including triggering oxidative stress by the generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibition of the superoxide dismutase activity, suppression of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In addition, Disulfiram can reverse the resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs by inhibiting the P-glycoprotein multidrug efflux pump and suppressing the activation of NF-kB, both of which play an important role in the development of drug resistance. Furthermore, Disulfiram has been found to reduce angiogenesis because of its metal chelating properties as well as its ability to inactivate Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and matrix metalloproteinases. Disulfiram has also been shown to inhibit the proteasomes, DNA topoisomerases, DNA methyltransferase, glutathione S-transferase P1, and O6- methylguanine DNA methyltransferase, a DNA repair protein highly expressed in brain tumors. The patents described in this review demonstrate that Disulfiram is useful as an anti-cancer drug.

CONCLUSION

For years the FDA-approved, well-tolerated, inexpensive, orally-administered drug Disulfiram was used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, but it has recently demonstrated anti-cancer effects in a range of solid and hematological malignancies. Its combination with copper at clinically relevant concentrations might overcome the resistance of many anti-cancer drugs in vitro, in vivo, and in patients.

Prevention, screening, and treatment for heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder

Heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder are major public health problems. Practitioners not specialising in alcohol treatment are often unaware of the guidelines for preventing, identifying, and treating heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder. However, a consensus exists that clinically useful and valuable tools are available to address these issues. Here, we review existing information and developments from the past 5 years in these areas. We also include information on heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder among individuals with co-occurring psychiatric disorders, including drug use disorders. Areas covered include prevention; screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment; evidence-based behavioural interventions; medication-assisted treatment; technology-based interventions (eHealth and mHealth); and population-level interventions. We also discuss the key topics for future research.

Characterization of long-term prognosis in acute pancreatitis: An explorative analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Severity classification systems of acute pancreatitis (AP) assess inpatient morbidity and mortality without predicting outpatient course of AP. To provide appropriate outpatient care, determinants of long-term prognosis must also be identified. The aim of this study was to define clinical groups that carry long-term prognostic significance in AP.

METHODS

A retrospective study that included patients admitted with AP was conducted. Determinants of long-term prognosis were extracted: These included Revised Atlanta and Determinant Based Classification (RAC), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Modified CT Severity Index (MCTSI), etiology, and local complications (LCs). Seven surrogates of morbidity up to 1 year after discharge were also collected and subsequently imputed into a clustering algorithm. The algorithm was set to produce three categories and multinomial regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

281 patients were included. The incidences of morbidity endpoints were similar among the 3 RAC categories. Three clusters were identified that carried long-term prognostic significance. Each cluster was given a name to reflect prognosis. The limited AP had the best prognosis and included patients without LCs with a low co-morbidity burden. The brittle AP had a low co-morbidity burden and high MCTSI (LCs 94%). It ran a very morbid course but had excellent survival. The high-risk AP had the worst prognosis with the highest mortality rate (28%). They had a high co-morbidity burden without local complications.

CONCLUSION

Categories that carry long-term prognostic significance in AP have been developed. This study could help formulate appropriate follow-up and ultimately improve AP outcomes.

Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung, psychische Belastung und Therapieerfahrung als Prädiktoren der Abstinenz nach stationärer Behandlung – eine Replikationsstudie

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Gestatten die Merkmale „Anzahl vorheriger Entgiftungen“, „Depressivität“ und „Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung, SWE“ eine Prognose der Abstinenz zur Ein-Jahres Katamnese? Methode: Prospektive Replikations-Feldstudie in einer anderen Klinik, in der mittels binärer logistischer Regression und Chi Quadrat Tests Unterschiede in Patienten-Merkmalen zwischen zur Ein-Jahres-Katamnese durchgehend abstinenten (N = 285) vs. rückfällig gewordenen Alkoholabhängigen (N = 274) analysiert wurden. Ergebnisse: Ebenso wie in unserer vorherigen Studie waren Alter, Geschlecht, Schulbildung, Arbeitslosigkeit, Familienstand, Partnersituation, suchtspezifische und psychische Komorbidität prognostisch nicht relevant, Ausnahme Persönlichkeitsstörungen. Wiederum hatten Patienten mit weniger als zwei Entgiftungen und einer hohen SWE die höchste Wahrscheinlichkeit ein Jahr durchgehend abstinent zu leben (82 %). Ebenso bestätigt wurde, dass Verbesserungen in der psychischen Belastung nicht mit Abstinenz korrelieren. Depressivität und vorherige Entwöhnungsbehandlungen wurden nicht als Prädiktoren repliziert. Schlussfolgerungen: Vorherige Entgiftungen, SWE und Persönlichkeitsstörungen könnten für den hier untersuchten Kliniktyp allgemeinverbindliche Prädiktoren sein. Inwiefern der Ausschluss der beiden Prädiktoren Depressivität und vorherige Entwöhnungsbehandlungen eine Folge neu eingeführter Interventionen für Depressive und Therapieerfahrene ist, wäre zu prüfen. Wie in unserer vorherigen Studie gestattet das Regressionsmodell trotz geringer Varianzaufklärung und mittlerer Effektstärken die Ableitung kausaler Hypothesen zur klinikspezifischen Verbesserung der Behandlung. Replikationsstudien sollten ebenso wie die empirische Orientierung ein fester Bestandteil verhaltenstherapeutischer Behandlung sein.

Alcohol Dependence and Harmful Use of Alcohol

BACKGROUND

In Germany today, there are more than 1.8 million persons who are dependent on alcohol, and 1.6 million persons whose use of alcohol is harmful. The many complications of alcohol use are both mental and physical-in particular, gastrointestinal and neurological. Yet more than 80% of persons whose alcohol use is problematic still receive no treatment for their harmful use or dependence, despite contact with the health-care system.

METHODS

This article is a selective review of the pertinent literature, including guidelines, meta-analyses, and Cochrane Reviews.

RESULTS

The treatment is divided into an early interventional and motivational phase, qualified withdrawal, long-term cessation therapy, and a stabilization phase. Pharmacotherapy with acamprosate or naltrexone increases the rate of abstinence (number needed to treat: 12 and 20, respectively). If a patient lacks the motivation to abstain from alcohol entirely, reduced consumption can be agreed upon as a goal of treatment. 85% of patients relapse if no further treatment is given after initial detoxification.

CONCLUSION

What is needed in routine medical practice is practical diagnostic evaluation followed by individually tailored treatment, based on the severity of the condition, the development of the patient's motivation to be treated, and the local treatment options (e.g., outpatient addiction clinics, counseling centers, or day clinics).

Impulsive mechanisms influencing relapse in alcohol drinking

Impulsivity has been related to different features of addictive behaviors. Growing data, generated in separated lines of research, suggest that different processes underlying impulsivity are associated to relapse in alcohol drinking. Considering the evidence, relapse can be understood as an impulsive choice or as an impulsive action. In the first case, the return to drinking behavior is a consequence of insensitive to delayed consequence, that is, to the discounting of delayed rewards. In the second case, relapse is a consequence of failures to inhibit prepotent responses. Nevertheless, conditions that control the action of each mechanism or their interaction to influence relapse still unknown. We hypothesize that both mechanisms interact to produce relapse depending on framing effects, the moments of a drinking episode or context. The implication of the hypothesis is that relapse prevention strategies need to reduce discounting rate, but also to increase behavioral inhibition in the presence of cues related to alcohol.

Why MDMA therapy for alcohol use disorder? And why now?

Alcohol use disorder represents a serious clinical, social and personal burden on its sufferers and a significant financial strain on society. Current treatments, both psychological and pharmacological are poor, with high rates of relapse after medical detoxification and dedicated treatment programs. The earliest historical roots of psychedelic drug-assisted psychotherapy in the 1950s were associated with Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-assisted psychotherapy to treat what was then called, alcoholism. But results were varied and psychedelic therapy with LSD and other 'classical' psychedelics fell out of favour in the wake of socio-political pressures and cultural changes. A current revisiting of psychedelic clinical research is now targeting substance use disorders - and particularly alcohol use disorder - again. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy has never been formally explored as a treatment for any form of substance use disorder. But in recent years MDMA has risen in prominence as an agent to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With its unique receptor profile and a relatively well-tolerated subjective experience of drug effects when used clinically, MDMA Therapy is ideally suited to allow a patient to explore and address painful memories without being overwhelmed by negative affect. Given that alcohol use disorder is so often associated with early traumatic experiences, the author is proposing in a current on-going UK-based study that patients with alcohol use disorder who have undergone a medical detoxification from alcohol might benefit from a course of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.

A novel chemoradiation targeting stem and nonstem pancreatic cancer cells by repurposing disulfiram

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a 5-year relative survival rate of 8% and is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030, underscoring the urgency to develop new strategies to improve current therapeutic modalities for PDAC. Targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy, is a promising strategy. A novel approach which can be readily clinically translated is to repurpose disulfiram (DSF), a drug for treating alcoholism, to target PCSCs. Chemoradiation or the combination of chemotherapy agents FOLFIRINOX, currently standard care for PDAC, can increase stemness in some established or primary PDAC cell lines. However, DSF in the presence of exogenously or endogenously supplied copper (Cu), when combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiation, targets both PCSCs and nonstem PDAC cells. Previously, we demonstrated that DSF/Cu effectively targets breast cancer stem cells in the context of fractionated radiation (FIR) by inhibiting the NF-κB-stemness gene pathway. Therefore, the hypothesis that PCSCs can be effectively targeted by incorporating DSF/Cu into the standard chemoradiation regimen consisting of 5-FU and FIR was investigated and found to be effective in vitro in targeting PCSCs, identified as either ALDH^bright or CD24+/CD44+/ESA+ or sphere-forming cells, as well as nonstem PDAC cells. In vivo, the combination of IR+5-FU+DSF/Cu was more effective (72.46%) than either IR+5-FU (30.32%) or IR+FOLFIRINOX therapy (43.04%) in inhibiting growth of the mouse Panc02 tumor. These encouraging results provide a solid foundation for clinical trials to improve the outcomes of the current standard chemoradiation therapy regimen for PDAC.

Guidelines for biological treatment of substance use and related disorders, part 1: Alcoholism, first revision

These practice guidelines for the biological treatment of alcohol use disorders are an update of the first edition, published in 2008, which was developed by an international Task Force of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP). For this 2016 revision, we performed a systematic review (MEDLINE/PUBMED database, Cochrane Library) of all available publications pertaining to the biological treatment of alcoholism and extracted data from national guidelines. The Task Force evaluated the identified literature with respect to the strength of evidence for the efficacy of each medication and subsequently categorised it into six levels of evidence (A-F) and five levels of recommendation (1-5). Thus, the current guidelines provide a clinically and scientifically relevant, evidence-based update of our earlier recommendations. These guidelines are intended for use by clinicians and practitioners who evaluate and treat people with alcohol use disorders and are primarily concerned with the biological treatment of adults with such disorders.

Recombinant human diamine oxidase activity is not inhibited by ethanol, acetaldehyde, disulfiram, diethyldithiocarbamate or cyanamide

Human diamine oxidase (hDAO, EC 1.4.3.22) is the key enzyme in the degradation of extracellular histamine. Consumption of alcohol is a known trigger of mast cell degranulation in patients with mast cell activation syndrome. Ethanol may also interfere with enzymatic histamine degradation, but reports on the effects on DAO activity are controversial. There are also conflicting reports whether disulfiram, an FDA-approved agent in the treatment of alcohol dependence, inhibits DAO. We therefore investigated the inhibitory potential of ethanol and disulfiram and their metabolites on recombinant human DAO (rhDAO) in three different assay systems. Relevant concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetate did not inhibit rhDAO activity in an in vitro assay system using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) -mediated luminol oxidation. The aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH; EC 1.2.1.3) inhibitors cyanamide and its dimer dicyanamide also had no effect on DAO activity. In one assay system, the irreversible ALDH inhibitor disulfiram and its main metabolite diethyldithiocarbamate seemed to inhibit DAO activity. However, the decreased product formation was not due to a direct block of DAO activity but resulted from inhibition of peroxidase employed in the coupled system. Our in vitro data do not support a direct blocking effect of ethanol, disulfiram, and their metabolites on DAO activity in vivo.

Antagonist models for treating persons with substance use disorders

This paper provides an overview on the status of antagonist models for treating patients with substance use disorders. It begins with an overview describing the ambivalence about stopping or not stopping substance use and how antagonist approaches, combined with psychosocial treatment, are aimed to address it. It then goes on to review data on disulfiram and acamprosate treatment of alcohol dependence and naltrexone treatment of opioid and alcohol dependence. The superior results achieved by extended release formulations are emphasized. The mixed findings on naltrexone treatment for amphetamine dependence are presented and the chapter ends with a brief review of vaccine development for treatment of substance use disorders. Overall conclusions are that the strongest treatment effects are with extended release naltrexone with opioid dependence. Disulfiram treatment of alcohol dependence also has strong effects but is not widely used due to low levels of patient acceptance and concerns about its potential for serious adverse events. Less robust but clinically meaningful effects are seen with naltrexone or acamprosate treatment of alcohol dependence. Vaccines are a very interesting and promising new development but many challenges and hurdles must be overcome before they are ready for clinical use.

Brucine suppresses ethanol intake and preference in alcohol-preferring Fawn-Hooded rats

AIM

Brucine (BRU) extracted from the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L is glycine receptor antagonist. We hypothesize that BRU may modify alcohol consumption by acting at glycine receptors, and evaluated the pharmacodynamic profiles and adverse effects of BRU in rat models of alcohol abuse.

METHODS

Alcohol-preferring Fawn-Hooded (FH/Wjd) rats were administered BRU (10, 20 or 30 mg/kg, sc). The effects of BRU on alcohol consumption were examined in ethanol 2-bottle-choice drinking paradigm, ethanol/sucrose operant self-administration paradigm and 5-d ethanol deprivation test. In addition, open field test was used to assess the general locomotor activity of FH/Wjd rats, and conditioned place preference (CPP) was conducted to assess conditioned reinforcing effect.

RESULTS

In ethanol 2-bottle-choice drinking paradigm, treatment with BRU for 10 consecutive days dose-dependently decreased the ethanol intake associated with a compensatory increase of water intake, but unchanged the daily total fluid intake and body weight. In ethanol/sucrose operant self-administration paradigms, BRU (30 mg/kg) administered before each testing session significantly decreased the number of lever presses for ethanol and the ethanol intake, without affecting the number of sucrose (10%) responses, total sucrose intake, and the number of lever presses for water. Acute treatment with BRU (30 mg/kg) completely suppressed the deprivation-induced elevation of ethanol consumption. Treatment with BRU (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) did not alter locomotion of FH/Wjd rats, nor did it produce place preference or aversion.

CONCLUSION

BRU selectively decreases ethanol consumption with minimal adverse effects. Therefore, BRU may represent a new pharmacotherapy for alcoholism.

Combined pharmacotherapies for the management of alcoholism: rationale and evidence to date

Pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have limited efficacy. One approach to improving treatment outcomes for AUDs is to combine pharmacotherapies that have shown some efficacy as individual agents. The rationale for combining medications rests on the following principles: a combination of medications can target more than one neurotransmitter system that is dysfunctional in AUDs, can target different drinking behaviors (i.e., positive and negative reinforcement), can treat co-morbid psychiatric and medical disorders, and can minimize side effects, improving adherence to treatment by using lower doses of each drug in combination. Combined pharmacotherapy strategies may produce additive or even synergistic effects to decrease alcohol craving and consumption. Here, we reviewed the literature investigating the effect on alcohol-related outcomes of combinations of medications that have shown efficacy as single agents to reduce drinking in animal studies and clinical trials. We focused on 17 clinical studies investigating the combination of medications in AUDs, 11 of which were randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. Ten of the 11 studies showed the combination to be superior to placebo, but only three showed an advantage of the combination compared with the single agent. Overall, these studies used diverse methodologies, assessments of severity, outcome measures, and adjunctive psychosocial treatments. Limitations of the current published studies and possible future directions for new combinations are discussed.

BAP updated guidelines: evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance abuse, harmful use, addiction and comorbidity: recommendations from BAP

The British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines for the treatment of substance abuse, harmful use, addiction and comorbidity with psychiatric disorders primarily focus on their pharmacological management. They are based explicitly on the available evidence and presented as recommendations to aid clinical decision making for practitioners alongside a detailed review of the evidence. A consensus meeting, involving experts in the treatment of these disorders, reviewed key areas and considered the strength of the evidence and clinical implications. The guidelines were drawn up after feedback from participants. The guidelines primarily cover the pharmacological management of withdrawal, short- and long-term substitution, maintenance of abstinence and prevention of complications, where appropriate, for substance abuse or harmful use or addiction as well management in pregnancy, comorbidity with psychiatric disorders and in younger and older people.

Acamprosate for treatment of alcohol dependence: mechanisms, efficacy, and clinical utility

Acamprosate, or N-acetyl homotaurine, is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulator approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a pharmacological treatment for alcohol dependence. The exact mechanism of action of acamprosate is still under investigation, but the drug appears to work by promoting a balance between the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, respectively, and it may help individuals with alcohol dependence by reducing withdrawal-associated distress. Acamprosate has low bioavailability, but also has an excellent tolerability and safety profile. In comparison with naltrexone and disulfiram, which are the other FDA-approved treatments for alcohol dependence, acamprosate is unique in that it is not metabolized by the liver and is also not impacted by alcohol use, so can be administered to patients with hepatitis or liver disease (a common comorbid condition among individuals with alcohol dependence) and to patients who continue drinking alcohol. Acamprosate has demonstrated its efficacy in more than 25 placebo-controlled, double-blind trials for individuals with alcohol dependence, and has generally been found to be more efficacious than placebo in significantly reducing the risk of returning to any drinking and increasing the cumulative duration of abstinence. However, acamprosate appears to be no more efficacious than placebo in reducing heavy drinking days. Numerous trials have found that acamprosate is not significantly more efficacious than naltrexone or disulfiram, and the efficacy of acamprosate does not appear to be improved by combining acamprosate with other active medications (eg, naltrexone) or with psychosocial treatment (eg, cognitive-behavioral therapy). In this review, we present the data on acamprosate, including its pharmacology, efficacy, safety, and tolerability in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

The persistence of maladaptive memory: addiction, drug memories and anti-relapse treatments

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder, characterised by the long-term propensity of addicted individuals to relapse. A major factor that obstructs the attainment of abstinence is the persistence of maladaptive drug-associated memories, which can maintain drug-seeking and taking behaviour and promote unconscious relapse of these habits. Thus, addiction can be conceptualised as a disorder of aberrant learning of the formation of strong instrumental memories linking actions to drug-seeking and taking outcomes that ultimately are expressed as persistent stimulus-response habits; of previously neutral environmental stimuli that become associated with drug highs (and/or withdrawal states) through pavlovian conditioning, and of the subsequent interactions between pavlovian and instrumental memories to influence relapse behaviour. Understanding the psychological, neurobiological and molecular basis of these drug memories may produce new methods of pro-abstinence, anti-relapse treatments for addiction.

Some observations from behavioral economics for consideration in promoting money management among those with substance use disorders

BACKGROUND

Behavioral economics research has revealed systematic biases in decision making that merit consideration in efforts to promote money management skills among those with substance use disorders (SUDs).

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this article was to briefly review the literature on five of those biases (i.e., hyperbolic delay discounting, defaults and preference for the status quo, loss aversion, mental accounting, and failure to account for opportunity cost) that may have particular relevance to the topic of money management.

METHODS

Selected studies are reviewed to illustrate these biases and how they may relate to efforts to promote money management skills among those with substance use disorders. Studies were identified by searching PubMed using the terms "behavioral economics" and "substance use disorders", reviewing bibliographies of published articles, and discussions with colleagues.

RESULTS

Only one of these biases (i.e., hyperbolic delay discounting) has been investigated extensively among those with SUDs. Indeed, it has been found to be sufficiently prevalent among those with SUDs to be considered as a potential risk factor for those disorders and certainly merits careful consideration in efforts to improve money management skills in that population. There has been relatively little empirical research reported regarding the other biases among those with SUDs, although they appear to be sufficiently fundamental to human behavior and relevant to the topic of money management (e.g., loss aversion) to also merit consideration. There is precedent of effective leveraging of behavioral economics principles in treatment development for SUDs (e.g., contingency management), including at least one intervention that explicitly focuses on money management (i.e., advisor-teller money management therapy).

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

The consideration of the systematic biases in human decision making that have been revealed in behavioral economics research has the potential to enhance efforts to devise effective strategies for improving money management skills among those with SUDs.

Evolving therapeutic indications for N-type calcium channel blockers: from chronic pain to alcohol abuse

Clinical exploitation of the therapeutic potential of calcium channels has long been limited to L-type blockers for cardiovascular diseases. Recently, N-type blockers have been fully validated for the treatment of chronic pain, following approval of the intrathecally active ziconotide (Prialt(®)). This review describes the successful efforts to broaden the therapeutic scope of this mechanism to other major CNS indications, based on the discovery of N-type blockers orally active against pain. In animal models, the N-type blocker and pain-reducing NP078585 is efficacious against key elements of ethanol dependency, including self-administration and relapse. NP078585 moderately stimulates brain dopamine release without inducing reward or hyperlocomotion. N-type blockers may emerge as a novel class of 'dopamine stabilizers' for the treatment of drug dependency and other neuropsychiatric disorders without the side effects of current therapies.

Novel metals and metal complexes as platforms for cancer therapy

Metals are essential cellular components selected by nature to function in several indispensable biochemical processes for living organisms. Metals are endowed with unique characteristics that include redox activity, variable coordination modes, and reactivity towards organic substrates. Due to their reactivity, metals are tightly regulated under normal conditions and aberrant metal ion concentrations are associated with various pathological disorders, including cancer. For these reasons, coordination complexes, either as drugs or prodrugs, become very attractive probes as potential anticancer agents. The use of metals and their salts for medicinal purposes, from iatrochemistry to modern day, has been present throughout human history. The discovery of cisplatin, cis-[Pt(II) (NH(3))(2)Cl(2)], was a defining moment which triggered the interest in platinum(II)- and other metal-containing complexes as potential novel anticancer drugs. Other interests in this field address concerns for uptake, toxicity, and resistance to metallodrugs. This review article highlights selected metals that have gained considerable interest in both the development and the treatment of cancer. For example, copper is enriched in various human cancer tissues and is a co-factor essential for tumor angiogenesis processes. However the use of copper-binding ligands to target tumor copper could provide a novel strategy for cancer selective treatment. The use of nonessential metals as probes to target molecular pathways as anticancer agents is also emphasized. Finally, based on the interface between molecular biology and bioinorganic chemistry the design of coordination complexes for cancer treatment is reviewed and design strategies and mechanisms of action are discussed.

Why is disulfiram superior to acamprosate in the routine clinical setting? A retrospective long-term study in 353 alcohol-dependent patients

AIMS

To compare the long-term effectiveness of acamprosate (ACP) and disulfiram (DSF) in the treatment of alcohol dependence and their effectiveness in regard to patient characteristics, within a naturalistic outpatient treatment setting.

METHOD

Retrospective data from 2002 to 2007 were analysed on 353 alcohol-dependent subjects in outpatient treatment, who, according to the patient's and the clinician's mutual decision, received either supervised DSF (with thrice-weekly appointments) or ACP (once-weekly appointments) following an inpatient alcohol detoxification treatment. Abstinence was assessed by alcohol breathalyzer, patients' self-report, urine and serum analyses, and overall physicians' rating.

RESULTS

Baseline data in terms of current addictive behaviour and course of disease differed between groups to the disadvantage of the DSF group; compared to the ACP group, subjects treated with DSF showed a longer duration of alcohol dependence, higher amounts of daily alcohol consumption and more alcohol detoxification treatments in their history. In follow-up, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significant differences between groups in the primary and secondary measures of outcome (P always <0.01). Time elapsed before the first alcohol relapse as well as attendance to outpatient treatment and cumulative alcohol abstinence achieved within outpatient treatment was explicitly longer in the DSF group. A longer duration of alcohol dependence predicted a favourable treatment outcome in the DSF group, while for the ACP group the chances for a successful treatment increased with shorter duration of alcohol dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the thesis that supervised DSF is an important component of alcoholism treatment, and it appears to be more effective than the treatment with ACP particularly in patients with a long duration of alcohol dependence.

Supervised disulfiram in relapse prevention in alcohol-dependent patients suffering from comorbid borderline personality disorder--a case series

AIMS

Disulfiram is widely used to prevent alcoholic relapse. However, due to the intended adverse reaction with ethanol, some believe that its use is dangerous for patients with personality disorders or psychiatric comorbidities because of their increased risk of impulsivity or suicidal behaviour. We examined the safety and efficacy in relapse prevention of a series of alcoholics with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

METHODS

Case history study of patients diagnosed with BPD, prescribed disulfiram in a dose of 1.5-2.5 g/week, supervised by a physician in up to three brief contacts per week.

RESULTS

Two out of eight patients remained completely abstinent during the supervised disulfiram therapy over a mean period of 9.25 months. Adherence to treatment was 18.44 +/- 21.78 months. The first relapse occurred after 1.38 +/- 1.41 months. The cumulated time of abstinence was 16.88 +/- 20.48 months. The overall tolerability was considered to be high; dizziness and fatigue appeared in all patients at the beginning of the therapy but did not persist. No serious adverse events or ethanol-disulfiram interactions were observed. No suicidal behaviour was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Although case observations should be interpreted with caution, supervised disulfiram seems to deserve further investigation in patients with comorbid BPD, for whom it appears to help prevent alcoholic relapse.

Employment-based abstinence reinforcement as a maintenance intervention for the treatment of cocaine dependence: a randomized controlled trial

CONTEXT

Due to the chronic nature of cocaine dependence, long-term maintenance treatments may be required to sustain abstinence. Abstinence reinforcement is among the most effective means of initiating cocaine abstinence. Practical and effective means of maintaining abstinence reinforcement programs over time are needed.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether employment-based abstinence reinforcement can be an effective long-term maintenance intervention for cocaine dependence.

DESIGN

Participants (n = 128) were enrolled in a 6-month job skills training and abstinence initiation program. Participants who initiated abstinence, attended regularly and developed needed job skills during the first 6 months were hired as operators in a data entry business and assigned randomly to an employment-only (control, n = 24) or abstinence-contingent employment (n = 27) group.

SETTING

A non-profit data entry business. Participants Unemployed welfare recipients who used cocaine persistently while enrolled in methadone treatment in Baltimore.

INTERVENTION

Abstinence-contingent employment participants received 1 year of employment-based contingency management, in which access to employment was contingent upon provision of drug-free urine samples under routine and then random drug testing. If a participant provided drug-positive urine or failed to provide a mandatory sample, then that participant received a temporary reduction in pay and could not work until urinalysis confirmed recent abstinence.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Cocaine-negative urine samples at monthly assessments across 1 year of employment.

RESULTS

During the 1 year of employment, abstinence-contingent employment participants provided significantly more cocaine-negative urine samples than employment-only participants [79.3% and 50.7%, respectively; P = 0.004, odds ratio (OR) = 3.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.60-8.69]. Conclusions Employment-based abstinence reinforcement that includes random drug testing is effective as a long-term maintenance intervention, and is among the most promising treatments for drug dependence. Work-places could serve as therapeutic agents in the treatment of drug dependence by arranging long-term employment-based contingency management programs.

Outpatient alcoholism treatment--24-month outcome and predictors of outcome

OBJECTIVES

To study the value of demographic and alcohol-related variables for predicting 24-month treatment outcome in an outpatient setting.

METHODS

Prospective observational study with 92 alcohol-dependent patients. Assessments were made by personal interviews at the beginning and end of therapy, and at the 24-month follow-up. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 46.0 (SD = 9.9) years. There were 58 males (65.2%) and 31 females (34.8%). Of the 67 patients interviewed at 2-year follow-up, 58% were abstinent and 79% improved. Differences between abstainers and non-abstainers were found for number of previous detoxifications, and number of patients attempted suicides. In addition, female gender and a higher number of prior treatments predicted negative treatment outcome.

CONCLUSION

Matching patients to different types of treatment by means of empirically based characteristics may help to improve outcome but research has failed to establish reliable predictors in that area. Data from this follow-up study confirm the role of certain clinical outcome predictors. Additionally, results give further evidence for outpatient treatment as an effective setting for alcohol-dependent patients as indicated by a favourable retention rate (84%) and outcome (minimum abstinence rate 44%).

Alcohol-use disorders

Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse or harmful use cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Alcohol-use disorders are associated with depressive episodes, severe anxiety, insomnia, suicide, and abuse of other drugs. Continued heavy alcohol use also shortens the onset of heart disease, stroke, cancers, and liver cirrhosis, by affecting the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune systems. Heavy drinking can also cause mild anterograde amnesias, temporary cognitive deficits, sleep problems, and peripheral neuropathy; cause gastrointestinal problems; decrease bone density and production of blood cells; and cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol-use disorders complicate assessment and treatment of other medical and psychiatric problems. Standard criteria for alcohol dependence-the more severe disorder-can be used to reliably identify people for whom drinking causes major physiological consequences and persistent impairment of quality of life and ability to function. Clinicians should routinely screen for alcohol disorders, using clinical interviews, questionnaires, blood tests, or a combination of these methods. Causes include environmental factors and specific genes that affect the risk of alcohol-use disorders, including genes for enzymes that metabolise alcohol, such as alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase; those associated with disinhibition; and those that confer a low sensitivity to alcohol. Treatment can include motivational interviewing to help people to evaluate their situations, brief interventions to facilitate more healthy behaviours, detoxification to address withdrawal symptoms, cognitive-behavioural therapies to avoid relapses, and judicious use of drugs to diminish cravings or discourage relapses.