Efficacy and safety of drug therapy aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis v1
Authors: Kotake Kazumasa , Hosokawa Tomonari , Tanaka Masuo , So Ryuhei , Banno Masahiro , Kataoka Yuki , Hashimoto Yasuhiko 
Published: May 2021

Background Excessive alcohol consumption is a social problem. According to the World Health Organization, approximately three million deaths were attributed to alcohol consumption, which is 5.3% of all deaths. Despite this high mortality, only a small number of alcoholics receive alcoholism treatment, and many do not receive it. The reason for the lack of progress in the treatment of alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorders (AUD) has been that the goal of sobriety is a hurdle for alcoholics. Abstinence is a common therapeutic goal, but the perception that abstinence is the only treatment goal may discourage treatment-seeking. Recently, it was reported that the prognosis at one year was the same for both abstinence and moderation use goals in the treatment of alcohol dependence and that it was important for patients to choose their own treatment goal of abstinence or reduction in alcohol consumption to continue treatment. Therefore, medication to reduce drinking is used for patients whose treatment goal is to reduce drinking. In the past, a network meta-analysis (NMA) of pharmacologically controlled drinking in the treatment of alcoholism or AUD has been reported. The review summarizes existing data from randomized controlled trials up to June 2016. However, in recent years, there have been several reports that there are some drugs that can be expected to reduce alcohol consumption including anticonvulsants, and some RCTs of drugs to reduce alcohol consumption have been reported. This systematic review and NMA aimed to summarize and critically appraise all existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of drug therapy for reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or AUD. Purpose The purpose of this study is to conduct an updated review of efficacy and safety of drug therapy aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or AUD. Method and analysis [Part 1] Updated review of drug therapy aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or AUD (clinical definition) The purpose of our review is to update efficacy and safety of drug therapy aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or AUD. We describe this protocol that follows the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews. [Part 2] Systematic review and meta-analysis of drug therapy aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or AUD Based on the updated review above, we will design PICO and conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the efficacy and safety of drug therapy aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in the treatment of alcohol dependence or AUD. We used a systematic review protocol template (dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bu4qnyvw). We followed the Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews) 2015 for preparing this protocol. Ethics and dissemination In this systematic review, only data from previously conducted studies will be analyzed. We will publish this systematic review in peer-reviewed journals.