title: Neurobiological correlates of the disposition and maintenance of alcoholism.
abstract: The last decade witnessed a rapid increase in the knowledge of the etiopathology and treatment of alcoholism. The current disease concept includes psychosocial and neurobiological foundations and consequences of alcoholism. Neurobiological research points to dispositional factors such as a low level of response to alcohol, which is partly heritable and seems to be associated with monoaminergic dysfunction and reduced GABAergic alcohol effects. Chronic alcohol intake stimulates counteradaptive neuroadaptation in central GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, which increases alcohol tolerance. Neuroadaptation to chronic alcohol effects is not immediately reversed during detoxification and can cause clinical withdrawal once alcohol intake is terminated. Sensitization of the dopaminergic and opioidergic reward system may contribute to alcohol craving and reduced control of alcohol intake. New treatment options include pharmacological approaches and indicate that behavior or motivational therapy and the attendance of patient groups may equally reduce the relapse risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Campus Charité-Mitte (CCM), Berlin, Germany. andreas.heinz@charite.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Higley
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Krystal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D012201:Reward; D012307:Risk Factors; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D004298:Dopamine