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Standard counseling approaches for alcohol dependence emphasize abstinence and 12-step programs, and pharmacotherapy and behavior therapy have been proven effective. This randomized, 16-week treatment study at 13 U.S. academic sites involved 1383 alcohol-dependent abstinent patients without serious psychiatric illness (range of abstinence, 4–21 days).
There were nine study arms: In four, patients received medication management (MM) with placebo, naltrexone, acamprosate, or both drugs; in another four arms, each treatment was combined with a cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI); the final arm was CBI alone. MM involved nine sessions with a healthcare professional emphasizing abstinence, medication adherence, and use of support groups. Spec…