Review of Drug Effectiveness in the Treatment of Alcoholism
JORGE A. VIAMONTES M.D.1
1 Clinical Director, Alcohol Treatment and Research Center, Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center, 1420 Grattan, St. Louis, Mo. 63104, and Instructor in Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
In reviewing the British and American literature regarding the effectiveness of drugs in treating alcoholism, the author found that success was frequently claimed in studies that were uncontrolled and that lacked objective means of comparison. Only one controlled study he reviewed claimed that a drug was more effective than placebo. He recommends further research and a review of the methodology to develop a successful chemical treatment for alcoholism.
