J Korean Diabetes.  2012 Jun;13(2):76-80. 10.4093/jkd.2012.13.2.76.

Etiology and Clinical Charateristics of Alcohol Use Disorder

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chung-ju, Korea. sjs1192@paran.com

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) includes alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Since AUD is considered a bio-psycho-social disease, the etiology is multifactorial, including biological, psychological and social variables. Neurobiologically, addiction is related to the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens, known as the "pleasure center," and an imbalance of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine, gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), and glutamate. Psychologically, chronic drinking is used as a means of self-medication for reducing tension and stress and overcoming anxiety and depression. Socially, the rate of alcoholism depends on the culture and social attitude toward drinking behaviors. Social learning and conditioning are the social causes of AUD. Common clinical features of AUD include physiological changes such as tolerance and withdrawal, and occupational and social dysfunction. AUD is also closely associated with physical illness, such as alcoholic liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the etiology and clinical features of AUD is the first step to managing patients with alcohol problems. Physicians should consider alcohol abuse as a serious alcohol-related disorder that impairs familial, social, and occupational functions as much as alcohol dependence.

Keyword

Alcohol use disorder; Abuse; Dependenece; Etiology; Chracteristics

MeSH Terms

Alcohol-Related Disorders
Alcoholism
Anxiety
Cardiovascular Diseases
Depression
Dopamine
Drinking
Drinking Behavior
Glutamic Acid
Humans
Learning
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic
Neurotransmitter Agents
Nucleus Accumbens
Resin Cements
Thyroid Gland
Ventral Tegmental Area
Dopamine
Glutamic Acid
Neurotransmitter Agents
Resin Cements

Reference

1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders. 2000. Arlington: American Psychiatric Association.
2. Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. Kaplan & Sadock's synopsis of psychiatry. Behavioral science/clincal psychiatry. 2007. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;385–387. 392–393.
3. Bear MF, Connores BW, Paradiso MA. Neuroscience. Exploring the brain. 2007. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;522–527.
4. Cheon KA. Psychiatric approach toward children of alcoholics (COAs). J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2004. 43:665–673.
5. Bagnardi V, Blangiardo M, La Vecchia C, Corrao G. Alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer: a meta-analysis. Alcohol Res Health. 2001. 25:263–270.
6. Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson L. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 2008. 17th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill;2724–2728.
7. Tripp LE, Clemons JR, Goldstein RR, McCarthy Stewart L. Drinking patterns in liver transplant recipients. Psychosomatics. 1996. 37:249–253.
Article
8. Weinrieb RM, Van Horn DH, McLellan AT, Alterman AI, Calarco JS, O'Brien CP, Lucey MR. Alcoholism treatment after liver transplantation: lessons learned from a clinical trial that failed. Psychosomatics. 2001. 42:110–116.
Article
9. Lambert MT. Alcohol withdrawal in severe hypothyroidism. Psychosomatics. 2003. 44:79–81.
Article
10. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo JL Jr, Jones DW, Materson BJ, Oparil S, Wright JT Jr, Roccella EJ. Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee. Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension. 2003. 42:1206–1252.
Article
11. Costanzo S, Di Castelnuovo A, Donati MB, Iacoviello L, de Gaetano G. Cardiovascular and overall mortality risk in relation to alcohol consumption in patients with cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2010. 121:1951–1959.
Article
12. Lee E, Park SJ. Women's alcohol dependence: clinical characteristics and treatment. J Korean Acad Addict Psychiatry. 2006. 10:86–90.
Full Text Links
  • JKD
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr