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A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study of Nortriptyline and Bromocriptine in Male Alcoholics Subtyped by Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders
Author(s) -
Powell Barbara J.,
Campbell Jan L.,
Landon Jennifer F.,
Liskow Barry I.,
Thomas H. Mikel,
Nickel Elizabeth J.,
Dale Tamara M.,
Penick Elizabeth C.,
Samuelson Stephen D.,
Lacoursiere Roy B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1995.tb01532.x
Subject(s) - nortriptyline , psychiatry , psychology , anxiety , placebo , clinical psychology , bromocriptine , personality , medicine , prolactin , alternative medicine , pathology , amitriptyline , hormone , social psychology
This double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 6‐month follow‐up treatment study investigated the efficacy of bromocriptine and nortriptyline in attenuating drinking behavior and psychiatric symptoms in 216 male alcoholic patients subtyped by comorbid psychiatric disorder(s). Three well‐defined subtypes were examined: alcoholism only, alcoholism + affective/anxiety disorder, and alcoholism + antisocial personality disorder. It was hypothesized that both medications would relieve negative affective symptoms associated with alcohol use and would be particularly effective for the affective/anxiety subgroup. Contrary to our predictions, the only significant effects found were with the antisocial personality disorder patients who were receiving nortriptyline. One interpretation of the results was that nortriptyline may have reduced impulsive drinking in the antisocial personality disorder subgroup by actions on serotonergic neurotransmission.