Naltrexone and dual diagnosis

Naltrexone is often used to treat drug addicts and alcoholics. People with schizophrenia often have problems with drug use as well and Ileana Berman from Harvard Medical School led a small-scale study of 37 people to see whether naltrexone could help in treating people with schizophrenia. Over six months half of the study participants were given naltrexone and half were given a placebo. The study found that the participants taking naltrexone actually did worse than those on a placebo suggesting that antipsychotic drugs, psychotherapy and social support are still the best treatment for people with schizophrenia.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181575.php