Pharmacotherapy and Treatment Modalities for Alcohol Use Disorder

Authors

Heather Wong, University of LynchurgFollow

Specialty

Addiction Medicine

Advisor

Dr. Tom Colletti, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder is one of the most significant and common psychiatric diagnoses in the United States and continues to be one of the top contributors to global disease. It has caused more than 88,000 deaths in the US alone annually with many other mortality factors attributing to it.¹ Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is defined as a problematic use pattern of alcohol that creates clinically significant distress or impairment. Risk factors of alcohol use disorder include psychiatric comorbidities, genetics, environmental stress and sociocultural dynamics.² In the United States, there are currently three medications approved by the FDA for AUD treatment. Naltrexone, disulfiram and acamprosate have been utilized in remission and recovery of alcohol use and have been found to be efficacious. There are also novel medication regimens that are being studied at this time. More research needs to be completed to determine the most efficacious treatment modalities available to prevent continued alcohol use and relapse.

Recommended Citation

Wong H. Pharmacotherapy and Treatment Modalities for Alcohol Use Disorder. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2022; 4(3).