Effects of Tirzepatide on Alcohol Intake in Patients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia and Alcohol Use Disorder

Recruiting now · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Abuse/Dependence, Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia Disorders, Schizophrenia and Disorders With Psychotic Features, Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Spectrum Psychosis, Schizophrenia

In brief

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, have shown promise as a novel treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to investigate whether the Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide/GLP-1RA tirzepatide will reduce alcohol consumption in patients with a dual diagnosis of AUD and schizophrenia, a population in dire need of improved treatment options. To further investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of a potential dampening effect on alcohol consumption, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans will be applied. The key anticipated outcomes include: * decreased alcohol consumption and * reduced alcohol cue-induced brain activity in the GIP/GLP-1-treated patient group compared with the placebo group. To the best of the investigators knowledge, this has never been examined before.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06939088

Run by

Anders Fink-Jensen, MD, DMSci

People needed

108

Starts

2025-05-05

Expected to finish

2028-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Informed Consent: The patient must provide both oral and written informed consent.
• Diagnosis:
• Diagnosed with alcohol dependence according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10), and alcohol use disorder as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
• Diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder according to ICD-10 and DSM-5
• AUDIT Score: Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score greater than 15.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): BMI of 23 kg/m² or higher.
• Age Range: Between 18 and 70 years old (inclusive).
• Heavy Alcohol Consumption: Defined as 4 or more heavy drinking days within a consecutive 21-day period during the 28 days preceding the baseline evaluation. The 21-day period will be selected based on the largest total alcohol consumption and the greatest number of heavy drinking days within the 28-day timeframe. This will be assessed using the Timeline Followback (TLFB) method. Heavy drinking days are defined as days with an alcohol intake of 4 or more units (48 g of alcohol) for women and 5 or more units (60 g of alcohol) for men.

You may not qualify if…

• Intellectual Disability: individuals with a diagnosis of intellectual disability.
• Acute Psychosis: Acute exacerbation of psychosis, as indicated by a score of 6 or 7 on the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale.
• Coercive Measures: Current use of coercive measures, which includes individuals sentenced to treatment ('dom til behandling').
• Suicidal Behaviour: Evidence of current severe suicidal behaviour, as assessed by the investigator during clinical evaluation.
• History of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal: History of delirium tremens or alcohol withdrawal seizures.
• Severe Withdrawal Symptoms: Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, revised (CIWA-Ar) score greater than 9 at baseline examination.
• Severe Neurological Conditions: Presence of severe neurological diseases, including severe traumatic brain injury.
• Diabetes: Type 1 or 2 diabetes
• Pregnant or Potentially Pregnant Women: WOCBP who are pregnant, breastfeeding, intend to become pregnant within the next 6 months (including 16 weeks of treatment plus two months after discontinuation of semaglutide), or are not using a highly effective contraceptive method throughout the study period. Highly effective methods include combined hormonal contraception (oral, intravaginal, transdermal), progestogen-only hormonal contraception (oral, injectable, implantable), intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine system (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner, or sexual abstinence. WOCBP with a measured serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level greater than 3 U/L at inclusion will also be excluded.
• Liver Function: Impaired hepatic function, defined as liver transaminases greater than three times the upper limit of normal.
• Renal Function: Impaired renal function, indicated by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 50 mL/min and/or plasma creatinine above 150 μmol/L.
• Pancreatic Function: History of acute or chronic pancreatitis or amylase levels more than twice the upper limit of normal.
• Thyroid Conditions: Previous medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or a family history of MTC and/or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• Cardiac Issues: Decompensated heart failure (NYHA class III or IV), unstable angina pectoris, or myocardial infarction within the past 12 months.
• Uncontrolled Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure above 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure above 110 mmHg.
• Alcohol Use Disorder Medication: Use of medications for alcohol use disorder (e.g., disulfiram, naltrexone, acamprosate, nalmefene) within the 28 days prior to inclusion as recorded in the Timeline Followback (TLFB) schedule.
• Investigational Drugs: Receipt of any investigational drug within the past three months.
• Weight-Lowering Medications: Use of other weight-lowering pharmacotherapy in the past three months.
• Allergic Reactions: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients.
• Language Barriers: Inability to speak and/or understand Danish.
• Other Conditions: Any other condition that, in the investigator\'s opinion, may interfere with participation in the trial.
• For the subgroup of participants undergoing brain scans:
• MRI Contraindications: any contraindications for MRI (e.g., magnetic implants, pacemaker, claustrophobia).
• Benzodiazepine Use: Intermittent use of benzodiazepines within 12 days prior to the scanning session is not allowed. However, regular use of a stable dose of benzodiazepines is permitted.

Where it is running

• Department of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital — Aalborg, Denmark, Denmark (enrolling)
• Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Hospital — Frederiksberg, Denmark, Denmark (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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