David W Oslin1, Helen Pettinati, Joseph R Volpicelli. 1. Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. oslin@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Adherence to treatment has been demonstrated to be an important factor for remission from alcohol dependence. The authors compared therapy and medication adherence for treatment of alcohol dependence in older adults with adherence in younger adults. METHODS: All subjects were participants in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trial of naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol dependence. All subjects received a medically-based psychosocial intervention focused on motivating patients to change and on adherence to treatment. The therapy is nonconfrontational and is delivered by a nurse-practitioner. RESULTS: Compared with younger adults, older adults had greater attendance at therapy sessions and greater adherence to the medication. Age-group was the only pretreatment factor associated with adherence. The greater adherence in older adults translated to less relapse than in younger adults. CONCLUSION: Treatment for alcohol dependence can be effective for older adults. Older adults appear to respond well to a medically-oriented program that is supportive and individualized. In fact, findings from this study suggest that older adults can be treated in mixed-age treatment settings when psychotherapeutic strategies are used that are age-appropriate and delivered on an individual basis.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Adherence to treatment has been demonstrated to be an important factor for remission from alcohol dependence. The authors compared therapy and medication adherence for treatment of alcohol dependence in older adults with adherence in younger adults. METHODS: All subjects were participants in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trial of naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol dependence. All subjects received a medically-based psychosocial intervention focused on motivating patients to change and on adherence to treatment. The therapy is nonconfrontational and is delivered by a nurse-practitioner. RESULTS: Compared with younger adults, older adults had greater attendance at therapy sessions and greater adherence to the medication. Age-group was the only pretreatment factor associated with adherence. The greater adherence in older adults translated to less relapse than in younger adults. CONCLUSION: Treatment for alcohol dependence can be effective for older adults. Older adults appear to respond well to a medically-oriented program that is supportive and individualized. In fact, findings from this study suggest that older adults can be treated in mixed-age treatment settings when psychotherapeutic strategies are used that are age-appropriate and delivered on an individual basis.
Authors: David W Oslin; Susan Grantham; Eugenie Coakley; James Maxwell; Keith Miles; James Ware; Frederic C Blow; Dean D Krahn; Stephen J Bartels; Cynthia Zubritsky; Ed Olsen; JoAnn E Kirchner; Sue Levkoff Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2006-07 Impact factor: 3.084
Authors: Sandra A Springer; Angela Di Paola; Marwan M Azar; Russell Barbour; Archana Krishnan; Frederick L Altice Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2017-03-10 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Albert J Arias; Stephen Armeli; Joel Gelernter; Jonathan Covault; Antero Kallio; Sakari Karhuvaara; Tiina Koivisto; Rauno Mäkelä; Henry R Kranzler Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2008-07 Impact factor: 3.455