Alcohol dependence (AD) is a major public health problem. Currently, three drugs for the treatment of AD have been approved: acamprosate, disulfiram and oral naltrexone. Quetiapine XR is an atypical antipsychotic has been shown to be a promising medication for the treatment of alcoholism [1Moallem N. SSP 2012 ;

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias, 2Barzman D.H., y al. SSP 2006 ;

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias]. The aim of our study is evaluate quetiapine efficacy on impulsivity in a sample of alcoholic patients.

A sample of alcoholic patients (n=40) was assessed at the entrance and 2 months with: SCID-P, Brief-Temps, BIS-11, GSR, BPRS, SCI-DER, and CGI. The medium dosage of quetiapine is 300mg.

Using the last observation carried forward, the mean total BIS score decreased from 60.8 at baseline to 40.2 at the final visit (P=.03). More pronounced improvement was observed in motor impulsiveness (P<.03) and attentional impulsiveness (P<.05) compared with non-planning impulsiveness (P=.09). We observed an improvement in SCI-DER total score (P=.02), in particular in derealization (P=.03) and autopsychic depersonalization (P=.04). A mean weight gain of 4.8kg was observed. There is not significant different related to the different affective temperament.

Analyses revealed a significant effect of Quetiapine XR in improving impulsivity and dissociation, in particular motor and attentional impulsiveness, derealization and autopsychic depersonalization. Moreover, an improvement of dissociative symptoms is probably connected with the blockade of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors [3Millan M.J. SSP 2000 ;

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias]. Methodological limitations, clinical implications and suggestions for future research directions are considered.