title: Exercise training - A beneficial intervention in the treatment of alcohol use disorders?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise training may have multiple beneficial effects in individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. Yet, relatively little knowledge exists regarding the benefits of exercise training to augment treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this narrative review is to present a summary of the growing body of published literature supporting exercise training as a treatment strategy for individuals with AUDs. We will provide evidence on the myriad of ways in which exercise may exert a positive effect on AUD outcomes including stress, anxiety, impulsivity, and depression. Further, we will explore how these mechanisms share common neurobiological pathways. The role of exercise in enhancing the social environment and increasing individual self-efficacy to reduce excess and/or inappropriate alcohol consumption will also be discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We will conclude with a description of completed investigations involving exercise training and provide suggestions for next steps in this innovative field of study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Clinical Research Building, Suite 1008, Miami, FL 33136, USA. Electronic address: mstoutenberg@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoutenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Electronic address: Chad.Rethorst@UTSouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Chad D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rethorst
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Clinical Research Building, Suite 1008, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 213 Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. Electronic address: jpread@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Alcohol; Anxiety; Depression; Exercise; Impulsivity; Neurobiology; Stress