Overview of Alcohol Use Disorder.
The American journal of psychiatry August 1, 2023 Henry R Kranzler 92 citations
Alcohol is consumed by nearly half the U.S. population aged 12 or older, and heavy drinking contributes to over 140,000 deaths annually. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a current U.S. prevalence of 11%, yet less than 15% of individuals with a lifetime diagnosis receive treatment. Risk is nearly equally genetic and environmental. AUD responds to psychosocial treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy and to pharmacotherapy. Three FDA-approved medications—disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate—are underprescribed despite being first-line treatments. Off-label topiramate and gabapentin show efficacy, and novel candidates like psychedelics and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors are promising but need further evaluation. AUD remains highly stigmatized.