title: Management of alcohol abuse.
abstract: This article reviews the spectrum of alcohol use disorders. The pharmacologic properties of ethanol and its metabolism, and the historical, physical, and laboratory elements that may help diagnose an alcohol use disorder are examined. The concepts of motivational interviewing and stages of change are mentioned, along with the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, to determine the best level of treatment for alcoholism. Various therapeutic management options are reviewed, including psychological, pharmacologic, and complementary/alternative choices. This article provides a basic understanding of available tools to diagnose and treat this cunning and baffling brain and multisystem disease.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Chemical Dependency, VA Northern California Healthcare System, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA. Anthony.Albanese@va.gov
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Albanese
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D000431:Ethanol; D009271:Naltrexone