Science of the Sinclair Method

Peer-reviewed Research and Writings by J. David Sinclair, PhD

• The Sinclair Method definitive statement
• Sinclair, J.D. and R.J. Senter. Increased preference for ethanol in rats following alcohol deprivation. Psychonomic Science 8: 11‑12, 1967.
• Sinclair, J.D. The alcohol‑deprivation effect: Influence of various factors. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol33: 769‑782, 1972.
• Sinclair, J.D. Rats learning to work for alcohol. Nature 249: 590‑592, 1974.
• Sinclair, J.D., J.Adkins, and S.Walker. Morphine‑induced suppression of voluntary alcohol drinking in rats. Nature 246: 425‑427, 1973.
• Sinclair, J.D. Method for Treating Alcohol‑Drinking Response. USA patent 4,882,335 Nov. 21, 1989.
• Sinclair, J.D. Drugs to decrease alcohol drinking. Annals of Medicine 22: 357‑362, 1990.
• Sinclair, J.D. Evidence about the use of naltrexone and for different ways of using it in the treatment of alcoholism. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 36: 2-10, 2001.
• J. David Sinclair - Naltrexone itself does not reduce craving

Peer-reviewed Studies

• Kranzler, H. R., Tennen, H., Armeli, S., Chan, G., Covault, J., Arias, A., & Oncken, C. (2009). Targeted naltrexone for problem drinkers. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(4), 350–357. doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac5213
• Heinälä, P., H. Alho, K. Kiianmaa, J. Lönnqvist, K. Kuoppasalmi, and J. D. Sinclair. Targeted use of naltrexone without prior detoxification in the treatment of alcohol dependence: A factorial double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology: 21(3): 287-292, 2001.
• Grant BF, Saha TD, Ruan WJ, et al. Epidemiology of DSM-5 Drug Use Disorder Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions–III. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(1):39–47. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.2132
• Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C, et al. Pharmacotherapy for Adults With Alcohol Use Disorders in Outpatient Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA. 2014;311(18):1889-1900. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3628.
• Pettinati HM, Anton RF, Willenbring ML. The COMBINE Study—: An Overview of the Largest Pharmacotherapy Study to Date for Treating Alcohol Dependence. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2006;3(10):36-39.
• Foa EB, Yusko DA, McLean CP, et al. Concurrent Naltrexone and Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Patients With Comorbid Alcohol Dependence and PTSDA Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2013;310(5):488–495. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.8268
• Darren R. Quelch et al. Nalmefene Reduces Reward Anticipation in Alcohol Dependence: An Experimental Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study, Biological Psychiatry (2017). doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.12.029

News and Trade Publications

• Alcohol and Alcoholism - Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and the Clinical Significance of Naltrexone Blood Levels at the Time of a First Drink: Relevance to the Sinclair Method
• The Fix - Is Naltrexone an Ineffective Treatment for Alcoholism? Or are we just using it the wrong way?
• Medical Xpress - Window to brain's reward system could lead to better treatments for alcoholism
• Current Psychiatry - Medication for alcohol use disorder: Which agents work best?
• European Medicines Agency - European Medicines Agency recommends approval of medicine for reduction of alcohol consumption
• ClinicalTrials.gov Keyword: "naltrexone alcoholism"