Alcohol-use-disorder - Articles

Real-World Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

March 1, 2022

Ismene Petrakis, MD

Addiction psychiatrist and professor at Yale School of Medicine. Chief of Mental Health, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT.

Dr. Petrakis has disclosed that she participated in a study in which she did not receive any compensation from Alkermes apart from medication and Alkermes did not fund the study. Dr. Capurso has reviewed this material and found no evidence of bias pertaining to this educational activity.

Many patient with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also have comorbid psychiatric illness. Treating these patients can be challenging however there are evidenced based approaches that have been shown to be effective. Dr. Petrakis reviews the latest evidence in treating AUD in this challenging population.

Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease

March 1, 2022

Ramon Bataller, MD

Ramon Bataller, MD

Chief of Hepatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Bataller has disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Dr. Bataller reviews the progression of alcohol related liver disease and the clinical signs associated with each from steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. He also walks us through the elements of liver function tests, differentiates markers of inflammation from those of synthetic function, and discusses their clinical utility.

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder: An Overview

March 1, 2022

Mikveh Warshaw, NP.

Mikveh Warshaw, NP. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Community Health Center Inc. and faculty member of Center for Key Populations (CKP) Program, Middletown, CT. Ms. Warshaw has disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

There are three FDA approved medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and many others that have been tested. Here, we summarize the evidence behind the various medications for alcohol use disorder and highlight clinical scenarios in which each should be considered.

An Off-Label Guide to Gabapentin

January 31, 2022

Rajesh R. Tampi, MD, MS, DFAPA. and Chris Aiken, MD.

Rajesh R. Tampi, MD, MS, DFAPA. Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. Chairman, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic. Chris Aiken, MD. Editor-in-Chief of TCPR. Practicing psychiatrist, Winston-Salem, NC. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Off-label gabapentin (Neurontin) got a bad rep when it missed the mark in bipolar disorder, but there may be something worth salvaging in this drug. Here, we weigh its pros and cons for anxiety, substance use disorders, sleep, pain, and hot flashes, and compare it to its underutilized cousin, pregabalin (Lyrica).

Meds for Alcohol Use Disorders

January 18, 2022

Mikveh Warshaw, NP.

Mikveh Warshaw, NP. Ms. Warshaw has disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Naltrexone has shown efficacy for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in tightly controlled trials. Here, researchers demonstrate the efficacy of naltrexone in a large scale naturalistic study.

Disulfiram: An Underused Strategy for Alcohol Use Disorders

June 29, 2021

Stephen Wyatt, DO.

Stephen Wyatt, DO. Private practice psychiatrist with certification in addiction psychiatry, Charlotte, NC. Dr. Wyatt has disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

We unravel the myths that keep psychiatrists from using disulfiram (Antabuse) in alcohol use disorders. In the right patient, this medication is very effective and far less dangerous than the alternative: continued drinking.

Do We Need to Be Face-to-Face to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder?

February 3, 2021

Deepti Anbarasan, MD.

Deepti Anbarasan, MD. Dr. Anbarasan has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

We are getting more comfortable with telemedicine-based platforms to provide care. But do they improve the quality of care for unhealthy alcohol use? This randomized, controlled trial compares in-person care with asynchronous, module-based care for people with alcohol use disorder.

When to Stop Addiction Treatment: How Long Is Enough?

December 10, 2020

Michael Weaver, MD, FASAM.

Michael Weaver, MD, FASAM. Professor and medical director at the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addictions, University of Texas Medical School. Dr. Weaver has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Addiction is often lifelong phenomenon, but many patients may still wish to end treatment. We discuss the reasons why a patient might ask to “complete” their treatment and provide you with strategies for talking with patients about ceasing therapeutic treatments for substance use disorders.

EXPERT Q&A

Opioid Use Disorders and Serious Mental Illness

December 10, 2020

Sandra Gomez-Luna, MD

Sandra Gomez-Luna, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor at Yale University. Adult, adolescent, and child psychiatrist in Darien, CT. Dr. Gomez-Luna has disclosed that she has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Those with serious mental illness and unhealthy opioid use have special treatment considerations due to polypharmacy and overlapping stigma. Dr. Gomez-Luna walks us through these nuances and explains microdosing of buprenorphine—a helpful technique for starting treatment in patients who may have other opioids on board.

Does Low to Moderate Alcohol Drinking Help or Hurt Cognition?

December 10, 2020

Deepti Anbarasan, MD.

Deepti Anbarasan, MD. Dr. Anbarasan has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

We’re often presented with mixed messages regarding mild or moderate alcohol consumption and its effect on brain and/or cardiovascular health. This current study tracks alcohol consumption and its effects on cognition performance among middle-aged and older adults in the U.S.