Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Varenicline Treatment in Alcohol and Nicotine Dependent Patients With Schizophrenia - a Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: The aim of the proposed pilot study is to find out whether varenicline (ChantixTM) treatment decreases alcohol use and smoking in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Varenicline may also improve cognition (memory and concentration) and negative symptoms (e.g. poor attention, poverty of speech, apathy, affective flattening, anhedonia) in patients with schizophrenia and comorbid nicotine and alcohol dependence.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Between the ages of 18 and 75.
2. Smoking 5 or more cigarettes per occasion at least 3 times per week.
3. Fewer than 3 months of smoking abstinence in the past year.
4. Motivated to stop smoking.
5. Report exceeding maximum weekly drinking limits every week in the past 4 weeks and exceeding maximum daily drinking limits on at least 1 occasion in the past 4 weeks. Weekly heavy drinking is defined as 8 or more drinks for women and 15 or more drinks for men. Daily heavy drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men on an occasion.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Exhibit current, clinically significant physical disease or abnormality on the basis of medical history, physical examination, or routine laboratory evaluation
2. Any unexplained elevations in liver enzymes (i.e., transaminases, bilirubin)
3. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease
4. Uncontrolled hypertension
5. Hepatic or renal impairment
6. Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
7. Diabetes mellitus requiring insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications.
8. Baseline systolic blood pressure higher than 150 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure higher than 95 mm Hg
9. History of cancer (except treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin).
10. History of clinically significant allergic reactions.
11. Exhibit serious psychiatric illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe major depression, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, organic mood or mental disorders, or substantial suicide or violence risk) by history or psychological examination)
12. Have a current diagnosis of DSM-IV drug dependence other than nicotine or alcohol.
13. Have a current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Diploma in Social Medicine IV (DSM-IV) diagnosis of alcohol dependence that is clinically severe defined by a) a history of seizures, delirium, or hallucinations during alcohol withdrawal, b) a Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment scale (Sullivan et al., 1989) score of \> 8, c) report drinking to avoid withdrawal symptoms, or d) have had prior treatment of withdrawal.
14. Use of another investigational drug within 30 days.
15. Intention to donate blood or blood products during the treatment phase of the study.
16. Use of tobacco products other than cigarettes or use of marijuana.
17. Use of nicotine replacement therapy, clonidine, varenicline, bupropion, or nortriptyline within the month prior to enrollment or intention to use medication that might interfere with study medication.
18. Body Mass Index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) less than 15 or greater than 38 or weight less than 45 kg.
19. Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant, nursing, or not practicing effective contraception (oral, injectable, or implantable contraceptives, intrauterine device, or barrier method with spermicide).
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female subjects, 18-75 years old
* Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) criteria
* Smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day
* Weight of at least 100 lbs (45.4 kg)
* Motivation to quit smoking
* Stabilized psychotic symptoms
* Provision of informed consent for testing and treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

* Serious cardiac, renal, hypertensive, pulmonary, endocrine, or neurologic disorder
* Seizure disorder, recent withdrawal from alcohol or anxiolytics
* History of bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or dementia
* History of depression, panic, or bipolar disorders
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Prior use of varenicline or bupropion HCl within three months prior to initiation of the study
* Current use of other smoking cessation treatments
* Regular use of non-cigarette tobacco products (\> than once/week)
* Past substance abuse (alcohol or non-nicotine containing drugs) in the preceding 6 months
* Patients with suicidal ideations or plans
* Florid psychosis or increasing psychosis following varenicline or bupropion HCl treatment
* History of, or current, alcohol dependence/abuse
* Current use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Males or females, ages 18 to 69, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder, receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment
* Currently taking antipsychotic medication for at least 4 weeks (medication is prescribed, compliance assessed based on self-report and collateral information)
* Current DSM-IV diagnosis of Nicotine Dependence
* Current DSM-IV diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence
* Subject expresses a desire to cut down or quit smoking and drinking (based on assessment with contemplation ladder)
* An average of at least one pack of cigarettes per day (\>=20 cigarettes/day) over the 7 days prior to intake
* An average of at least 7 drinks over the 7 days prior to intake

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to give adequate informed consent
* Currently taking sustained - release bupropion (Zyban) or receiving any other form of bupropion, such as Wellbutrin or Wellbutrin SR; receiving another form of pharmacological smoking cessation treatment (e.g., nicotine gum or patch); or participating in another structured, formal smoking cessation program.
* Currently taking naltrexone (ReVia), Campral or Antabuse
* Participation in a clinical trial less than 3 months prior to intake
* History of suicide attempt in the past year
* History of hospitalization due to suicidal ideation in the past year
* Suicidal ideation at baseline
* Known allergic reaction to varenicline
* Female patients of childbearing potential who are sexually active, not sterile, and who deny using a form of birth control.
* Female patients who are pregnant or nursing.
* Significant unstable medical problems (e.g. impaired renal function).
* Significant unstable psychiatric disorders.
* Subjects who do not attend all required screening appointments.
* Subjects who have pending legal proceedings whose outcome may lead to incarceration within 3 months of intake.
* Positive urine drug screen for cocaine, opioids or amphetamine at baseline
* Current DSM-IV diagnosis of Cocaine, Opioid or Cannabis Dependence (1 month prior to enrollment)
* Metal implants or devices (e.g. aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, neural stimulators, cardiac pacemakers)
* Weight over 250 lbs
* Claustrophobia
D: INCLUSION CRITERIA

* Current and regular cigarette smokers (over 10 cigarettes/day for the past 3 months)
* Interested in quitting smoking

  * Willing to set a quit date 7 days after baseline assessment
* Participating in 1 of 5 methadone maintenance treatment programs across Rhode Island at any of the following institutions:

  * Codac, Inc. (with two independent sites)
  * Addiction Recovery Institute
  * Center for Treatment and Recovery
  * Discovery House
* Has received methadone for at least the past month

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

* Pregnant or nursing (Must have negative pregnancy test)
* Non-English speaking
* No personal telephone or does not live close to a relative or neighbor with a telephone
* Unwilling to make their methadone dose and methadone maintenance treatment program urine toxicologies available for review
* Unvailable for this study for the next 12 months
* Suffering from any unstable medical condition which would preclude the use of the nicotine patch (e.g., unstable angina or uncontrolled hypertension)
* Active skin condition (e.g., psoriasis)
* History of skin allergy
* History of a suicide attempt
* Working as pilots, drivers, or operators of heavy machinery

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No concurrent insulin or blood thinners
* No concurrent smokeless tobacco, nicotine replacement therapy, or other smoking cessation treatment

Answer: C