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Extended-release Naltrexone and Care Management for Alcohol Dependent Frequent Emergency Department Users

Novel Interventions for Alcohol Dependent Frequent Emergency Department Users: Phase IV, Randomized, Open-label, Non-placebo-controlled Study of Extended-release Naltrexone and Care Management on Healthcare Use, Drinking, & Quality of Life

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02445339
Enrollment
50
Registered
2015-05-15
Start date
2015-07-31
Completion date
2019-02-08
Last updated
2022-05-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alcohol Dependence, Alcohol Use Disorder

Keywords

Alcohol Dependence, Alcohol Use Disorder, Care Management, Case Management, Emergency Care Services, Emergency Department, Emergency Room, Extended-release naltrexone, Frequent Users, Health Care Utilization, Medical Management, Naltrexone, Population Health, Public Health, Vivitrol, XR-NTX, XR-NTX+CM, Alcoholism, Alcohol-Related Disorders, Central Nervous System Agents, Chemically-Induced Disorders, Clinical Trial, Emergency Medicine, Mental Disorders, Narcotic Antagonists, Peripheral Nervous System Agents, Pharmacologic Actions, Physiological Effects of Drugs, Sensory System Agents, Substance-Related Disorders

Brief summary

Our primary aim is to assess the feasibility of initiating treatment in the ED with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) plus care management (CM) vs. standard care and continuing care in cooperation with clinic providers as well as how best to assess outcomes. Secondarily, the investigators will explore its effect on various health outcomes (healthcare utilization and engagement, expenditures, drinking and consequences, quality of life) as well as the association of patient-level characteristics (e.g. sex, race, baseline drinking, health and psychosocial factors, mu opioid receptor genotype) with effectiveness. Determining both how to implement XR-NTX+CM and rigorously test its effects in the ED (phase 1) is essential before planning a large-scale effectiveness trial (phase 2).

Detailed description

Aim #1: To conduct a feasibility and acceptability study of XR-NTX+CM treatment in alcohol dependent patients with frequent ED use. Hypothesis: Enrollment of a limited number of subjects will allow identification of optimal processes for a definitive trial. Aim #2: To conduct an analysis of the effect of this intervention on healthcare utilization and engagement, drinking outcomes, quality of life, and consequences of drinking (initial analysis will be exploratory). Hypothesis: Measuring changes in healthcare utilization, drinking metrics, and indicators of quality of life and consequences will provide preliminary data on intervention effect size on various outcomes of interest to inform the second phase, definitive trial. Aim #3: To identify patient-level characteristics associated with effectiveness. Hypothesis: Exploratory analysis of patient and system-level characteristics possibly associated with effectiveness will inform treatment choice to maximize the probability of successful outcome. Factors assessed will include data collected in ongoing investigations of pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence, including mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) genotypes, to facilitate comparison across study populations and settings. This a phase IV, randomized, open-label, non-placebo-controlled, single-center study of the feasibility, acceptability, and effect of initiating treatment in the ED with extended-release naltrexone 380mg intramuscular injection compared to standard care in subjects with severe alcohol use disorders (i.e. alcohol dependence) and frequent emergency department use. In the first two years, we will finalize study preparations, recruit and randomize 50 subjects for the pilot phase of this study. The duration of each subject's participation will be 12 months. Thereafter, in the second phase of study, we will enroll an additional 250 subjects (for a total of 300 subjects) to address remaining feasibility and acceptability concerns and test effects. The study investigators (PI and RA) will collect process data, including barriers and facilitators encountered in the completion of all study procedures. For the following study procedures, study investigators (the PI and RAs) will enter data directly into New York University Langone Medical Center (NYULMC) internal REDCap system for use on portable tablet computers. Synopsis of Study Procedures: The following study procedures are described in greater detail elsewhere in this protocol. Patients will be prescreened for potential eligibility and added to an automated alert system linked to ED registration by Bellevue Care Managers as part of an ongoing quality improvement initiative. When a potentially eligible patient presents to the ED, an automated page will be delivered to the study PI and Bellevue ED social work and care management staff, prompting consultation and potential referral of the patient to study investigators (PI/RA) for recruitment (See 4.3 Subject Recruitment and Screening). ED medical providers (inclusive of ED physicians, nurses, social workers, and care managers) will notify study investigators (PI/RA) when potentially eligible patients are present in the ED. The medical provider will introduce the PI/RA to clinically sober and medically stable patients who have given their permission to be approached. The PI/RA will describe the study, confirm capacity to consent using the University of California San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent to Research (UBACC), and obtain written informed consent. The PI/RA will confirm eligibility by performing a chart and laboratory review (liver enzymes, pregnancy, urine drug screen), history and examination, and diagnostic interview to confirm alcohol dependence and assess for opioid use and chronic pain. The PI/RA will conduct research intake assessments and interview and collect blood for biomarker (5mL) and genetic (10mL) analyses. The PI/RA will randomize subjects to intervention (XR-NTX+CM) or Standard Care using a random number generator with randomly permuted blocks with allocations contained within opaque sealed envelopes. 1. For subjects randomized to the Intervention Arm, the PI/RA will confirm the drug screen is negative for opioids prior to administering XR-NTX 380mg as an intramuscular gluteal injection. The PI/RA will facilitate a person-centered, harm-reduction-based motivational interview, , and psychosocial assessment/interview to inform subjects' care-management plans. Subjects will receive a one-week referral to Bellevue ambulatory care for initial Alcohol-Medical Management (MM) and will also be scheduled every 4 weeks (after most recent XR-NTX injection) for MM and XR-NTX injections. When possible, participants who miss MM-injection visits will be navigated to clinic upon their next ED presentation and/or may receive MM and XR-NTX in the ED. XR-NTX will be administered by the PI or a provider (physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse) who is trained in the administration of XR-NTX. The schedule for MM-Injection visits is weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Participants may be offered to continue XR-NTX treatment through this study for as many has 12 injections in total as we explore the feasibility, acceptability and potential benefits of extending treatment duration to 12 months. The schedule for potential additional MM-Injection visits is weeks 28, 32, 36, 40, and 44. Research assessment visits will occur at weeks 12, 24, and 48 and may be conducted up to 28 days prior to- or 90 days after- date in which research visits are due. During research visits, the PI/RA will repeat the assessments that were conducted at the initial enrollment visit plus adverse events and participant satisfaction and we will collect a 5mL blood sample to examine alcohol consumption biomarkers. Subject participation ends after the week-48 research visit. 2. For subjects randomized to the Standard care arm, the PI/RA will provide referral to Bellevue ambulatory care for MM without further intervention. Research assessment visits will occur at weeks 12, 24, and 48 and may be conducted up to 28 days prior to- or 90 days after- date in which research visits are due. During research visits, the PI/RA will repeat the assessments that were conducted at the initial enrollment visit plus adverse events and participant satisfaction and we will collect a 5mL blood sample to examine alcohol consumption biomarkers. Subject participation ends after the week-48 research visit.

Interventions

DRUGXR-NTX+CM (Extended-Release Naltrexone plus Care Management)

The intervention arm will receive extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) 380mg (4 mL) to be administered as an intramuscular gluteal injection every 28 days up to 12 doses total. Expedited referral to alcohol-medical management. Care Management will include coordination of health care and social services for at least 12 months. Harm-reduction counseling and motivational interviewing to identify and work towards goals. The Standard care arm will receive an expedited alcohol-medical management referral.

Sponsors

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
CollaboratorNIH
NYU Langone Health
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Subjects must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for study enrollment: 1. English or Spanish speaking\* \*Non-English Spanish speaking patients will not be enrolled initially until study documents have been translated, back translated, and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). 2. Emergency Department patient 3. Aged 18-80 4. Have had \>4 emergency department visits within 12 months for 2 consecutive 12-month periods. Period of time can be extended by up to 6 months if incarcerated or institutionalized for ≥ 6 months. 5. Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version IV (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependence or & DSM-V criteria for alcohol use disorder, severe. 6. Have ≥2 days/week of heavy drinking (\>4 drinks/day) 7. Capable of giving informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be ineligible for study enrollment: 1. Active opioid dependence 2. Acute or chronic pain requiring opioid treatment 3. Acute liver injury (liver aminotransferase concentrations \>5 times the upper limit of normal) 4. Health condition considered unsafe for inclusion (at discretion of PI and/or attending physician) 5. Lack of capacity or willingness to consent 6. Currently prescribed pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence (not including treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome) 7. Previous significant adverse reaction to naltrexone or diluent 8. Pregnant, nursing, or not using effective methods of birth control 9. Prisoners (as defined by Office of Human Research Protection) at the time of enrollment ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for study entry. However, subjects who become prisoners after being enrolled will be included and not be withdrawn from the study. Patients on parole or probation are eligible for enrollment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Heavy Drinking DaysMonth 3Self-reported

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Heavy Drinking DaysMonth 6Self-reported
Short Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) ScoreMonth 3SIP-2R is a measure for assessing recent adverse consequences associated with alcohol use. SIP-2R consists of 15 events that are scored from 0 (never) to 3 (daily or almost daily). The total score range is 0-45; the higher the score, the more problems related to alcohol use.
Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) LevelsMonth 3
Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) LevelsMonth 3
EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) ScoreMonth 3EQ-5D is a standardized measure of health-related quality of life. A visual analogue scale is used to record an individual's valuation of defined EQ-5D profiles. The total score range is 0-100; the higher the score, the better the health state (0=worst imaginable health state, 100=best imaginable health state).

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CM
XR-NTX+CM (Extended Release Naltrexone + Care Management) XR-NTX+CM (Extended-Release Naltrexone plus Care Management): The intervention arm will receive extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) 380mg (4 mL) to be administered as an intramuscular gluteal injection every 28 days up to 12 doses total. Expedited referral to alcohol-medical management. Care Management will include coordination of health care and social services for at least 12 months. Harm-reduction counseling and motivational interviewing to identify and work towards goals. The Standard care arm will receive an expedited alcohol-medical management referral.
13
Standard Care Arm
Standard Care/Alcohol-Medical Management (MM) Only
10
Total23

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up1115
Overall StudyPhysician Decision10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIntervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMTotalStandard Care Arm
Age, Continuous55.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.3
55 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.8
54.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.6
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
4 Participants6 Participants2 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants17 Participants8 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants5 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
4 Participants6 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants12 Participants6 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
13 participants23 participants10 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
13 Participants22 Participants9 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 250 / 25
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 250 / 25
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 250 / 25

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Heavy Drinking Days

Self-reported

Time frame: Month 3

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMNumber of Heavy Drinking Days62 daysStandard Deviation 9.4
Standard Care ArmNumber of Heavy Drinking Days0 daysStandard Deviation 0
Secondary

Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels

Time frame: Month 6

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMCarbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels3.5 %CDTStandard Deviation 3.4
Standard Care ArmCarbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels4.7 %CDTStandard Deviation 4.3
Secondary

Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels

Time frame: Month 3

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMCarbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels5.4 %CDTStandard Deviation 4.6
Standard Care ArmCarbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels2.8 %CDTStandard Deviation 2.8
Secondary

Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels

Time frame: Month 12

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMCarbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels2.6 %CDTStandard Deviation 2.1
Standard Care ArmCarbohydrate-deficient Transferrin (CDT) Levels3.7 %CDTStandard Deviation 3
Secondary

EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score

EQ-5D is a standardized measure of health-related quality of life. A visual analogue scale is used to record an individual's valuation of defined EQ-5D profiles. The total score range is 0-100; the higher the score, the better the health state (0=worst imaginable health state, 100=best imaginable health state).

Time frame: Month 3

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMEuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score67.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 25.2
Standard Care ArmEuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score56.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 25.3
Secondary

EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score

EQ-5D is a standardized measure of health-related quality of life. A visual analogue scale is used to record an individual's valuation of defined EQ-5D profiles. The total score range is 0-100; the higher the score, the better the health state (0=worst imaginable health state, 100=best imaginable health state).

Time frame: Month 6

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMEuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score70.4 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 19.8
Standard Care ArmEuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score68.8 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 19.8
Secondary

EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score

EQ-5D is a standardized measure of health-related quality of life. A visual analogue scale is used to record an individual's valuation of defined EQ-5D profiles. The total score range is 0-100; the higher the score, the better the health state (0=worst imaginable health state, 100=best imaginable health state).

Time frame: Month 12

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMEuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score77.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 14.1
Standard Care ArmEuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Score56.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 23.9
Secondary

Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels

Time frame: Month 12

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMGamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels111.8 units/literStandard Deviation 178.2
Standard Care ArmGamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels109.3 units/literStandard Deviation 139
Secondary

Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels

Time frame: Month 3

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMGamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels197.8 units/literStandard Deviation 290
Standard Care ArmGamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels107.8 units/literStandard Deviation 136.8
Secondary

Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels

Time frame: Month 6

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMGamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels154.8 units/literStandard Deviation 305.6
Standard Care ArmGamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Levels146.8 units/literStandard Deviation 193.2
Secondary

Number of Heavy Drinking Days

Self-reported

Time frame: Month 6

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMNumber of Heavy Drinking Days32 daysStandard Deviation 9.1
Standard Care ArmNumber of Heavy Drinking Days25 daysStandard Deviation 7.9
Secondary

Number of Heavy Drinking Days

Self-reported

Time frame: Month 12

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMNumber of Heavy Drinking Days0 daysStandard Deviation 0
Standard Care ArmNumber of Heavy Drinking Days37 daysStandard Deviation 9.5
Secondary

Short Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score

SIP-2R is a measure for assessing recent adverse consequences associated with alcohol use. SIP-2R consists of 15 events that are scored from 0 (never) to 3 (daily or almost daily). The total score range is 0-45; the higher the score, the more problems related to alcohol use.

Time frame: Month 3

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMShort Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score25.4 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.6
Standard Care ArmShort Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score24.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 13.2
Secondary

Short Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score

SIP-2R is a measure for assessing recent adverse consequences associated with alcohol use. SIP-2R consists of 15 events that are scored from 0 (never) to 3 (daily or almost daily). The total score range is 0-45; the higher the score, the more problems related to alcohol use.

Time frame: Month 12

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMShort Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score13.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 11
Standard Care ArmShort Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score17.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 15
Secondary

Short Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score

SIP-2R is a measure for assessing recent adverse consequences associated with alcohol use. SIP-2R consists of 15 events that are scored from 0 (never) to 3 (daily or almost daily). The total score range is 0-45; the higher the score, the more problems related to alcohol use.

Time frame: Month 6

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intervention Arm: XR-NTX+CMShort Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score20.8 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 14.6
Standard Care ArmShort Inventory of Problems Related to Alcohol (SIP-2R) Score25.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 15

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026