Effect of antidepressants for cessation therapy in betel-quid use disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

More than one-half of betel-quid (BQ) chewers have betel-quid use disorder (BUD). However, no medication has been approved. We performed a randomised clinical trial to test the efficacy of taking escitalopram and moclobemide antidepressants on betel-quid chewing cessation (BQ-CC) treatment.

Methods

We enrolled 111 eligible male BUD patients. They were double-blinded, placebo-controlled and randomised into three treatment groups: escitalopram 10 mg/tab daily, moclobemide 150 mg/tab daily and placebo. Patients were followed-up every 2 weeks and the length of the trial was 8 weeks. The primary outcome was BQ-CC, defined as BUD patients who continuously stopped BQ use for ⩾6 weeks. The secondary outcomes were the frequency and amount of BQ intake, and two psychological rati

SUBMITTER: Hung CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7216045 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature