Research Paper Title

The influence of anxiety symptoms on clinical outcomes during baclofen treatment of alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background

Given the high coexistence of anxiety symptoms in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD), the researchers aimed to determine the influence of anxiety symptoms on outcomes in patients with AUD treated with GABAB receptor agonist baclofen.

Methods

A meta-analysis of 13 comparisons (published 2010-2020) including baseline and outcome data on alcohol consumption and anxiety after 12 weeks was undertaken.

Results

There were significantly higher rates of abstinent days in patients treated with baclofen compared to placebo (p = 0.004; high certainty evidence); specifically in those with higher baseline anxiety levels (p < 0.00001; high certainty evidence) compared to those with lower baseline anxiety levels (p = 0.20; moderate certainty evidence). The change in anxiety ratings over 12 weeks did not differ between those treated with baclofen or placebo (p = 0.84; moderate certainty evidence).

Conclusions

This may be due to different anxiety constructs being measured by scales not validated in this patient group, or that anxiety is not a biobehavioural mechanism by which baclofen may reduce alcohol drinking. Given the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in AUD all these factors warrant further research.

Reference

Agabio, R., Baldwin, D.S., Amaro, H., Leggio, L. & Sinclair, J.M.A. (2021) The influence of anxiety symptoms on clinical outcomes during baclofen treatment of alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.030. Online ahead of print.