title: Treating the "unhealthy alcohol user" on medical wards: beyond withdrawal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are common among patients admitted to general hospitals. Unfortunately, AUDs often go undetected and untreated. Psychiatrists are frequently called upon to assist in the management of cases involving alcohol withdrawal. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding potential therapeutic approaches to AUDs beyond the acute withdrawal stage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article presents an overview of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment of AUDs on medical wards, with a specific focus on the post alcohol-withdrawal phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article is based on a survey of the published literature on AUDs and their treatment in the medical ward using the PubMed database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various screening tools are available to facilitate the detection of AUDs. Among non-medically ill patients, brief psychological interventions have proven to be effective in primary care and emergency room settings, while pharmacotherapy has been shown to reduce the risk of relapse. Existing data on the implementation of these interventions in the general hospital setting remain scarce.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current evidence suggests the need for additional research in this area with a view toward clarifying AUD treatment guidelines for medically ill inpatients. The hospital stay could provide a valuable opportunity to initiate interventions for AUDs with medically ill patients, leading to significant changes in alcohol use behaviors and better health-related outcomes.
authors: Columbia University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. jacynthe.rivest@umontreal.ca
authors: Jacynthe
authors: J
authors: Rivest
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Jutras-Aswad
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008403:Mass Screening; D011570:Psychiatry; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol