Michael Rainer, Hermann A. M. Mucke, Karin Chwatal
2008
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Psychopharmacology
Abstract
Chronic alcohol abusers show a specific pattern of cerebral damage associated with cognitive and behavioral defects known as the organic cerebral psychosyndrome, which is partially reversible upon discontinuation of ethanol consumption. To asses the potential of nootropic drug therapy in alcohol rehabilitation in a double-blind study design, 56 consecutive patients who participated in routine rehabilitation therapy reeived 2×3 mg/day dihydroergocristine or placebo in tablet form over 6–13 weeks. Forty-nine patients completed, the protocol. Although significant improvement was seen in both groups, we could document a specific congnitive restitution effect attributable to dihydroergocristine. Significant differences in favor of the active drug group were demonstrated, by Mini-Mental State Examination, Syndrome Brief Test, Paired Words Test, in the neuropsychiatric Brief Cognitive Rating Scale assessments, and in the Clinical Global Impression of Change rating. No significant between-group differences were found in the Digit Symbol Test and the Block Design Test as well as in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Dihydroergocristine was equivalent to placebo in terms of subjective drug tolerance, lack of side effects, and laboratory parameters. Based on this profile of efficacy and safety, we recommend dihydroergocristine as an adjuvant drug in alcohol rehabilitation.