Objective: Evaluate the efficacy and physiological effects of sublingual buprenorphine (SL-BUP; Subutex) combined with extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX; Vivitrol) in the treatment alcohol use disorder of comorbid (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Hypothesis: The treatment of (sublingual buprenorphine) SL-BUP + (extended release naltrexone) XR-NTX will significantly reduce both (alcohol use disorder) AUD and (post-traumatic stress disorder) PTSD symptoms. Primary Inclusion Criteria: Treatment-seeking individuals with comorbid AUD and PTSD Subject Completion Target: A total of 90 male and female, treatment-seeking individuals with comorbid AUD and PTSD screened, enrolled, and randomized to treatment group Study Protocol: Screening: Potential participants are pre-screened by phone to ensure they meet basic study criteria. During informed consent and screening processes, participants receive thorough pre-enrollment education and the commitment to and feasibility for follow-up are confirmed. Screening visit is separate (at least 2-day interval) from Baseline visit. A participant who is otherwise meeting eligibility criteria except for taking an excluded medication can undergo a medically supervised discontinuation and 5-day washout of medication(s). At any point in the screening process and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria listed above, the participant may be deemed eligible and proceed to baseline visit or investigator may exclude a participant and refer him/her for appropriate treatment. At baseline, participants are randomized to receive either treatment A (buprenorphine 2mg SL with naltrexone 380mg IM) or treatment B (SL placebo and IM placebo) in a double-blind fashion. The treatment allocation ratio for the treatment vs. placebo regimens is 1:1. At Screening, Baseline and Follow-up, an independent rater at each site performs the Timeline Follow Back (TLFB), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating (CSSR) assessments. Safety endpoints, adverse events (AEs), vital signs, and laboratory measures are tracked for each subject to assess study drug safety.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
69
Daily 2mg SL BUP (84 pills total, taken sublingual every day for 12 weeks) and Q4wks (given intramuscular, 3 injections total: at baseline, week4 and week8 ) IM NLTRX
Daily SL placebo (84 pills total, taken sublingual every day for 12 weeks) and Q4wks (given intramuscular, 3 injections total: at baseline, week4 and week8) IM Placebo
Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Number of Participants With a Reduction in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), With TLFB Tool
Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) is a calendar-based method of assessing drinking patterns used to document the frequency and amount of daily alcohol consumption and to categorize the World Health Organization Risk Levels of Alcohol Use. An AUD reduction is defined as a WHO risk reduction of at least one category from baseline to week 8. The are 4 different WHO Risk Levels based on the grams of alcohol consumed per day: Very High Risk, High Risk, Medium Risk, and Low Risk (including abstinence).
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Number of Participants With a Reduction in CAPS-5 Total Symptom Severity Score (TSSS) of 10 or More Points
The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) is a 30-item structured interview to assess PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity. The CAPS-5 produces a PTSD Total Symptom Severity Score (TSSS) that ranges from 0 to 80, with a higher score indication worse PTSD symptoms. For this study, a reduction in PTSD symptoms is defined as a 10 or more point decrease in the CAPS-5 Total Symptom Severity Score (TSSS) from baseline to week 8.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Composite Outcome Measure for a Reduction in Both Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms
AUD is measured by the Timeline Follow Back (TLFB). This instrument documents the amount of daily alcohol consumption (in grams) and categorizes the World Health Organization Risk Levels of Alcohol Use. The are 4 different WHO Risk Levels: Very High Risk, High Risk, Medium Risk, and Low Risk (including abstinence). An AUD reduction is defined as a WHO risk reduction of at least one category from baseline to week 8. PTSD symptom is measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). This 30-item interview assesses PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity. The CAPS-5 Total Symptom Severity Score (TSSS) ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating worse symptoms. A reduction in PTSD symptom is defined as a 10+ point decrease in the TSSS from baseline to week 8. A positive response for the composite primary outcome measure is defined as at least a 1-category risk reduction on the WHO s and at least a 10-point decrease in TSSS from baseline to Week 8.
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Time frame: Baseline and 8 Weeks