Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, have shown promise as a novel treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to investigate whether the Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide/GLP-1RA tirzepatide will reduce alcohol consumption in patients with a dual diagnosis of AUD and schizophrenia, a population in dire need of improved treatment options. To further investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of a potential dampening effect on alcohol consumption, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans will be applied. The key anticipated outcomes include: * decreased alcohol consumption and * reduced alcohol cue-induced brain activity in the GIP/GLP-1-treated patient group compared with the placebo group. To the best of the investigators knowledge, this has never been examined before.
The study is a randomised (1:1), double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial including 26 weeks of treatment investigating whether tirzepatide vs placebo can reduce the number of heavy drinking days in patients with comorbid diagnoses of schizophrenia and AUD. The primary endpoint will be evaluated after 16 weeks of treatment. The study will conclude after a post-intervention follow-up 14 weeks after last treatment at week 40 of the study. 108 participants will be included. Alcohol consumption and secondary endpoints will be assessed at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 26, and 40, and all patients will be offered 6 sessions of supportive therapy, while participating in the study. The randomisation and administration of the weekly injections (tirzepatide/placebo) will be administered by an unblinded staff not involved in other trial activities. All patients will be blindfolded when receiving the injections. Eligible patients (n=50) will have an fMRI brain scan performed at baseline and in week 16. Blood tests for safety measures and secondary endpoint-measures will be performed at weeks 0, 16, 26, and 40.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
108
Once weekly injections s.c. with tirzepatide (Mounjaro(R))
Once weekly injections s.c. with placebo (BD Posiflush)
Department of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital
Aalborg, Denmark, Denmark
RECRUITINGPsychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Hospital
Frederiksberg, Denmark, Denmark
RECRUITINGChange in heavy drinking days
The primary endpoint will be a change in alcohol consumption, measured as a per cent change in heavy drinking days after 16 weeks of treatment with tirzepatide or placebo, adjusted for the value at baseline (percentage points). Heavy drinking days will be registered using the Timeline-Follow-Back (TLFB) method including the last 21 consecutive days with the largest total alcohol intake and the greatest number of heavy drinking days within the 28 days preceding the evaluation. A heavy drinking day is defined as more than 60/48 grams (men/women) of alcohol in one day.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 weeks of treatment
Heavy drinking days
Change in heavy drinking days measured using the TLFB method.
Time frame: From baseline to 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
Total alcohol consumption
Change in total alcohol consumption measured using the TLFB method.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
Days without alcohol consumption
Change in number of days without alcohol measured using the TLFB method.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
World Health Organization (WHO) Risk Levels of Alcohol Consumption
Change in WHO alcohol risk level measured using the TLFB method.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) score
Change in Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) score. Minimum score = 0, maximum score =30. A high score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score
Change in AUDIT score. Minimum score = 0, maximum score =40. A high score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) score
Change in DUDIT score. Minimum score = 0, maximum score =44. A high score means a worse outcome.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Drug use frequency
Change in drug use frequency measured using the drug use frequency section of the DUDIT-extended
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Preferred substance of use
Change in preferred substance of use
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Biomarkers of cannabis exposure
Changes in biomarkers of recent cannabis exposure (blood 11-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) levels)
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Changes in PHQ-9
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Fagerströms Test for Nicotine Dependence score
Changes in smoking habits using the Fagerströms Test for Nicotine Dependence score
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Number of cigarettes smoked per day
Changes in average number of cigarettes smoked per day
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Cotinine levels
Change in blood cotinine levels
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Blood parameters
Changes in blood parameters (GGT, ALAT, MCV)
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Liver fibrosis (FIB-4 score)
Changes in FIB-4 score
Time frame: From baseline to 26 weeks of treatment
Blood phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth) levels
Changes in PEth levels
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
Glycaemic control parameters
Changes in HbA1c levels
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
Blood pressure
Change in blood pressure
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Body weight
Change in body weight
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment and 14 weeks post-intervention
Waist circumference
Change in waist circumference
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
fMRI alcohol cue-reactivity
Changes in fMRI BOLD signals in response to alcohol cues in brain regions related to reward in a subgroup (n=50) of participants
Time frame: From baseline to 16 weeks of treatment
WHO-5 Subjective Well-Being Index
Changes in quality of life measured using the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)
Time frame: From baseline to 26 weeks of treatment
Global Assessment of Psychosocial Disability (GAPD)
Changes in GAPD score
Time frame: From baseline to 26 weeks of treatment
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6)
Changes in symptom severity of schizophrenia measured using PANSS-6
Time frame: From baseline to 26 weeks of treatment
Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S)
Changes in CGI-S score
Time frame: From baseline to 26 weeks of treatment
Proteomics
Change in proteomics
Time frame: From baseline to 16 and 26 weeks of treatment
Qualitative experience
For a subgroup of participants (n=20), qualitative interviews will be performed after 16 weeks of treatment to evaluate qualitative differences in trial participation experiences between the intervention and placebo groups, which will be assessed as a secondary outcome.
Time frame: From baseline to 16 weeks of treatment
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