Alcoholism (Alcohol Abuse)

A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4)

Also Known As:

Networked: 8049 relevant articles (296 outcomes, 986 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Alcoholism (Alcohol Abuse)
2.	Substance-Related Disorders (Drug Abuse)
3.	Neoplasms (Cancer)
4.	Bipolar Disorder (Mania)
5.	Infection

Experts

1.	Heilig, Markus: 28 articles (05/2015 - 01/2002)
2.	Kornhuber, Johannes: 27 articles (11/2015 - 05/2004)
3.	Bleich, Stefan: 26 articles (03/2015 - 05/2004)
4.	Goldman, David: 25 articles (09/2015 - 02/2002)
5.	Kranzler, Henry R: 24 articles (01/2014 - 01/2002)
6.	Hillemacher, Thomas: 23 articles (03/2015 - 10/2004)
7.	Edenberg, Howard J: 21 articles (01/2015 - 12/2002)
8.	Krystal, John H: 20 articles (02/2015 - 07/2003)
9.	Bell, Richard L: 19 articles (09/2015 - 09/2002)
10.	Ciccocioppo, Roberto: 19 articles (07/2015 - 01/2002)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Alcoholism:

1.	Naltrexone (ReVia)FDA LinkGeneric 03/01/2003 - "As research continues on the optimal use of naltrexone for modifying alcohol intake, a number of factors have emerged that are likely to determine the efficacy of naltrexone as a pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment of alcoholism. " 01/01/2003 - "Although many physicians and others treating alcoholism have found naltrexone to be very helpful in treatment, it is still a technology that has not been used widely. " 01/01/1998 - "The majority indicated that it helped them understand "a good deal" about the management of alcoholism and the use of network therapy and naltrexone. " 09/01/1999 - "Clinical studies have shown that the opioid antagonist naltrexone is effective in the treatment of alcoholism. " 01/01/2010 - "Naltrexone appears to be an effective and safe strategy in alcoholism treatment. "
2.	Disulfiram (Antabuse)FDA Link 08/01/2007 - "This case highlights the potential dangers of disulfiram, a drug that can be beneficial in the short term, but not proven to improve long-term outcome in the treatment of alcoholism." 09/01/2011 - "Disulfiram is effective in relapse prevention in alcoholism. " 05/01/2003 - "Controlled research has shown that supervised disulfiram is an effective treatment for alcoholism. " 01/01/1993 - "Disulfiram has been used effectively to deter alcohol consumption in patients with a history of alcohol abuse. " 04/01/1991 - "Disulfiram, widely used in avoidance therapy for alcohol abuse, has been shown to have protective effects against chemically induced toxicity and carcinogenesis. "
3.	Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol)IBA 10/01/2008 - "Ethanol revealed a marked decrease of burst activity in those patients suffering from alcoholism with increased alcohol concentration. " 11/01/1993 - "These results suggest that this ethanol-drinking animal model has high "predictive validity" and can be used effectively in the search for and identification of new agents for the treatment of alcohol abuse. " 06/01/2014 - "Given the ubiquitous nature of alcoholism in society, its complications have been clinically recognized for generations, with recent advances focusing on improved understanding of ethanol's biochemical targets and the pathophysiology of its complications. " 01/01/1985 - "Future investigators may find them helpful in assessing theories on the etiology of alcoholism and in studies of ethanol's effects on subsets of alcohol abusers." 10/01/2012 - "In light of the improved anxiolytic efficacy and benign side effects of NPS in ethanol-withdrawn animals, the NPSR may prove a suitable target for reducing relapse in alcoholism."
4.	AcetaldehydeIBA 06/01/2014 - "To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the association of ADH1B*2 allele with blood EtOH and acetaldehyde levels in humans, and these results suggest that higher blood EtOH and acetaldehyde concentrations in ADH1B*2/*2 may constitute the mechanism of protection against alcoholism by ADH1B*2/*2." 08/01/2009 - "The partial protection against alcoholism has been ascribed to the faster elimination of acetaldehyde by residual hepatic ALDH2 activity and the lower accumulation in circulation in nonalcoholic heterozygotes. " 07/01/2006 - "Future studies are needed to assess alcohol outcome expectancies at different phases of alcohol dependence and to evaluate the concurrent relationships of blood levels of acetaldehyde with physiological and psychological outcomes among persons with alcoholism who have different ALDH genotypes." 12/01/2005 - "Recent studies have suggested that either physiological tolerance of blood acetaldehyde, or innate insensitivity to it, or both may play a crucial role in keeping alcoholism from developing by protecting against adverse reactions. " 08/01/2001 - "MEDLINE was searched from 1980 to 2000 using the key words acetaldehyde, pharmacokinetics, and alcoholism for controlled trials reporting blood or breath acetaldehyde levels in alcoholics and nonalcoholics. "
5.	acamprosate (AOTA)FDA Link 09/01/2012 - "GlyT-1 inhibition may represent a new treatment principle for alcoholism that is superior to acamprosate." 10/09/2003 - "Acamprosate has been shown to be effective and safe in relapse prevention of alcoholism. " 01/01/2002 - "Exposure-induced but not spontaneous alcohol intake is antagonized by acamprosate, a compound clinically effective in human alcoholism. " 02/01/1998 - "Acamprosate (calcium-acetyl homotaurinate) is a relatively new compound developed for the treatment of alcoholism and has been shown to be effective in attenuating relapse in human alcoholics. " 05/01/2000 - "The properties of acamprosate (calcium acetylhomotaurate), a new remedy for the treatment of alcoholism, are reviewed. "
6.	Biological Markers (Surrogate Marker)IBA 10/01/2011 - "This study showed that when EtG in hair and CDT results are combined, diagnostic SE in chronic alcohol abuse diagnosis clearly improved, suggesting that complementary analysis of both these biomarkers provides the best diagnostic tool in suspected cases of chronic excessive alcohol consumption." 01/01/1992 - "Existing biological markers of alcoholism and excessive alcohol consumption are of poor sensitivity and specificity, and new, improved markers are needed. " 01/01/2014 - "The wealth of information gained from these advances can help pinpoint relevant biomarkers for early diagnosis and improved prognosis of alcoholism and identify future pharmacological targets for the treatment of this addiction. " 03/01/2005 - "Skipper; (5) Application of Biomarkers for Alcohol Use Disorders in Clinical Practice, by Tim Neumann; (6) Utility of Biomarkers in Assessing the Efficacy of Medications for Treating Alcoholism, by Marty Javors; and (7) Discussion, by Raye Litten." 04/01/1997 - "Furthermore, biochemical markers can assist in forensic investigations; in identification of public health, safety, and transportation workers who may drink excessively and who, as a result, may put others at risk; in evaluation of efficacy of treatments for alcohol abuse; and in recognition of early phase alcohol-related tissue damage. "
7.	Carbon MonoxideIBA 07/01/2010 - "The year-long co-residing group had significantly more secure and fewer disorganized infants than predicted by their mothers' attachment status, measured by the Adult Attachment Interview, and a significantly greater proportion of secure infants than meta-analyzed community samples of mothers with low income, depression, or drug/alcohol abuse. " 11/01/2009 - "The addition of alcohol abuse with co-occurring depression as a positive screen criterion did not result in improved case identification. " 01/01/2013 - "Neuroimaging studies report structural and functional abnormalities in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), but interpretations may be complicated by the co-occurrence of a family history of alcoholism. " 07/01/2010 - "The aim of the present study was to conduct genome-wide linkage analyses to identify loci and to replicate prior evidence for linkage to MD, and to search for linkage regions that may confer risk to the co-occurrence of depression and alcoholism in a sample of sib-pairs affected with AD. " 01/01/2006 - "Co-occurring risk factors for alcohol dependence and habitual smoking: update on findings from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism."
8.	LithiumIBA 01/01/1989 - "In order to test the efficacy of lithium therapy for alcoholism, to test whether lithium therapy reduces depressive symptoms among alcoholics, and to test whether any positive lithium treatment effects are associated with an antidepressant action, we undertook a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 122 patients meeting DSM-III criteria for alcohol dependence and hospitalized for alcoholism rehabilitation. " 12/01/1984 - "The efficacy of lithium therapy for alcoholism was examined in 84 alcoholic volunteers admitted for rehabilitation. " 01/01/1981 - "To evaluate the efficacy of lithium in chronic alcoholism, we enrolled 47 male alcoholics in a prospective double-blind two-period crossover study. " 06/29/1991 - "The first, non-standardized studies on the effects of lithium against alcoholism involved a small number of subjects and were encouraging. " 09/22/1989 - "In our study, lithium treatment did not affect the course of alcoholism in either depressed or nondepressed alcoholics."
9.	Serotonin (5 Hydroxytryptamine)IBA 01/01/1989 - "Regardless of mechanism, serotonin uptake blockers offer a potentially promising new treatment for alcoholism." 11/01/2000 - "The 5-HT reuptake inhibitors may be helpful for the treatment of alcoholism by reducing relapse frequency and severity. " 05/01/2011 - "Because the results from the present study showed similar platelet 5-HT values between patients with or without a history of suicide attempt, our data did not support the hypothesis that platelet 5-HT concentration might be used as a peripheral marker of the pronounced suicidal behavior in alcoholism." 09/01/2009 - "Several studies have suggested that the serotonin receptor 1B gene (5HT1B) may be important in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence (alcoholism; ALC; AD). " 01/15/2009 - "This study did not find alterations in measures of 5-HT(1A) or 5-HT transporter levels in patients with type II alcoholism."
10.	Aldehyde DehydrogenaseIBA 09/01/1993 - "A strong protection against the development of alcoholism is exerted by a point mutation in the gene coding for low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), i.e. " 01/01/1996 - "The present study explored the utility of erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) as a peripheral marker in alcoholism. " 01/01/1988 - "Additional studies also indicate a possible importance of neuropsychological test deficits in higher-risk boys studied in their preteen or early-teen years; information continues to support the importance of the aldehyde dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern for the alcoholism risk among Orientals, but little consistent information has yet identified other enzyme activity levels or personality profiles as factors significantly different for higher-risk and lower-risk populations. " 06/15/2014 - "DSF is an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and an FDA-approved drug for treating alcoholism. " 05/01/2012 - "Strong protective effect of the aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (ALDH2) 504lys (*2) allele against alcoholism and alcohol-induced medical diseases in Asians."

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy) 10/01/1996 - "Improved study design will lead to continued advances in pharmacotherapy for the treatment of patients with alcoholism." 08/01/2015 - "These data add to the mounting clinical evidence that kudzu extract may be a safe and effective adjunctive pharmacotherapy for alcohol abuse and dependence." 05/01/2011 - "Modulation of alcohol craving induced by challenge stimuli may predict the efficacy of new pharmacotherapies for alcoholism. " 02/01/2000 - "Combination pharmacotherapy in alcoholism: a novel treatment approach." 01/01/1993 - "63 controlled clinical trials for drug therapy in alcoholism, published during the period 1970-1991 and investigating the efficacy of four different pharmacological agents are reviewed from the statistical analysis point of view. "
2.	Self Administration (Administration, Self) 08/01/2000 - "Studies of limited alcohol self-administration in the laboratory are an essential element in screening new medications for the treatment of alcoholism. " 11/01/2014 - "A greater EtOH sensitivity of DA and NE release dynamics in the NAc may contribute to increases in behavioral risk factors of alcoholism, like greater EtOH self-administration, that are observed in SI rats." 05/01/2014 - "The combination of models of alcohol withdrawal and dependence with operant self-administration constitutes an excellent tool to investigate the neurobiology of alcoholism. " 06/01/2011 - "We determined if 10 days of voluntary alcohol self-administration followed by withdrawal could directly alter DAT function, or if genetically mediated changes in DAT function and/or availability could influence vulnerability to alcohol abuse. " 03/01/1999 - "Long-term alcohol self-administration with repeated alcohol deprivation phases: an animal model of alcoholism?"
3.	Liver Transplantation 03/01/2015 - "Thus, there is a clear need of a more homogeneous approach, which was the focus of a symposium of the European Federation of Addiction Societies during the 14th conference of the European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, 2013 (ESBRA), entitled 'Liver transplantation: A European perspective'. " 04/01/2013 - "This encephalopathic illness has been well documented in the adult literature, occurring most commonly in the context of chronic alcoholism, correction of hyponatraemia and liver transplantation. " 12/01/2010 - "The influence of alcohol abuse history on the differential, longitudinal patterns of mental and physical quality of life following liver transplantation." 06/01/2009 - "This article presents data about psychological morbidity from a prospective study of patients being assessed for liver transplantation in Birmingham, UK, and explores whether those with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence are at increased risk of psychological symptoms. " 11/01/2008 - "However, while conducting a prospective study of the outcome of liver transplantation in Birmingham, United Kingdom, we observed that a research diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence was made in a number of cases in which no reference to alcohol problems had been made by the referring agency. "
4.	Splenectomy 07/01/2015 - "Predispositions were prior splenectomy in 59 patients and alcoholism in 58 patients. " 03/01/2012 - "Predisposing conditions include, among others, prior splenectomy and alcoholism. " 02/01/2011 - "Among 26 patients from whom clinical data were available, splenectomy was not reported, but alcoholism was reported in five. " 06/01/2007 - "Patients had a median age of 58 years; splenectomy and alcohol abuse were noted in, respectively, 18% and 25% of patients. " 06/01/2004 - "Absent in this patient were the usual risk factors, including immunosuppression, alcohol abuse, corticosteroid therapy, and splenectomy. "
5.	Contraception (Birth Control) 04/01/2002 - "Physicians were highly in favor of compulsory treatment for illicit drug use and alcohol abuse for women already in the criminal justice system (82%-83%), neutral with respect to court-ordered contraception for alcohol- (50%) and drug-abusing women (47%), and opposed to criminal prosecution for either alcohol abuse (18%-31% depending on subspecialty) or illicit drug use (23%-34%) during pregnancy. " 12/01/1995 - "We detected no cases of alcoholism or of uncontrolled oral contraception. " 01/01/1986 - "This review focuses on cigarette smoking, weight control, contraception, alcohol abuse and exercise behaviors. " 09/01/1993 - " Predicting deep suffering, misfortune, and ruinous trouble for youth who do not evangelize, the highest representative of the Catholic Church reaffirmed oft stated views against birth control, abortion, euthanasia, sex outside of marriage, and drug and alcohol abuse. " 01/01/2007 - "They include oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic EBV infection, drug and alcohol abuse, hormonal contraception etc. These conditions must be respected in the regimen of these adolescents."