Alcohol use disorder is a common psychiatric disorder that is multifactorial in etiology, chronic in nature, and is associated with a wide variety of medical and psychiatric sequelae.
Tolerance, withdrawal, impaired control of drinking behavior, and continued alcohol use despite adverse consequences are some important features of alcohol dependence.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can follow cessation or reduction in alcohol consumption. Withdrawal can be a serious medical condition. It is best monitored by use of a structured instrument: the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar). Benzodiazepines are the definitive medical treatment.
Binge-drinking, alcohol abuse, and mild alcohol dependence may be addressed by brief physician-based interventions.
Moderate or severe alcohol use disorder requires multimodal treatment. Detoxification in an inpatient or outpatient setting may be necessary. The goal of detoxification is to minimize withdrawal symptoms and to facilitate entry into an ongoing, multimodal treatment program directed toward assisting the patient in maintaining abstinence.
Medications, including naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram, can be successfully utilized for selected patients to improve their chances of maintaining abstinence.
Alcohol use disorder is a term used to refer to the misuse of alcohol. Several specifically defined conditions better categorize patterns of alcohol misuse.
Problematic alcohol use is classified in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., (DSM-5) as alcohol use disorder, with severity specified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of diagnostic criteria that have been met.[1]American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.
Alcohol use disorder results from a variety of genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors.[2]Swift RM. Drug therapy for alcohol dependence. N Engl J Med. 1999 May 13;340(19):1482-90.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10320388?tool=bestpractice.com
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
It is characterized by increased tolerance to the effects of alcohol, the presence of characteristic withdrawal signs and symptoms, and impaired control over the quantity and frequency of drinking.[1]American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013. Alcohol use disorder can be associated with a variety of medical and psychiatric sequelae. The World Health Organization's tenth edition of the International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (ICD-10) defines alcohol use disorders in a similar manner.[3]World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems. 10th ed. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2016.
http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2016/en#/
Alcohol use disorder is diagnosed when, over a 12-month period, the patient's drinking has caused clinically significant impairment or distress, as determined by the presence of least 2 or more diagnostic criteria (see Diagnostic categories under Diagnostic approach). ICD-10 designates an analogous category of "harmful alcohol use".[3]World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems. 10th ed. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2016.
http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2016/en#/
"Hazardous drinking" is another designation used to describe nondependent problem use of alcohol.