Pharmacological Treatment of Alcoholism

알코올중독의 약물치료

  • Sung, Sang Kyung (Department of Psychiatry, Keyo Hospital, Keyo Medical Foundation)
  • 성상경 (계요의료재단 계요병원)
  • Published : 1999.06.25

Abstract

This review focused on the pharmacological treatment of alcoholism, especially alcoholism-related mental disorder. The pharmacological agent for alcoholism can be divided into the following categories : anticraving agent, aversive agent, agent to treat acute alcohol withdrawal, agent to diminish drinking by treating associated psychiatric pathology, agent to induce sobriety in intoxicated individuals. Following trends are included in new trends of pharmacological treatment of alcoholism. What are precise conditions amenable to pharmacological intervention? ; How can psychosocial and behavioral intervention be integrated with pharmacotherapy to enhance treatment outcome? ; Is the concept of "matching" specific pharmacotherapy treatment to different aspect of alcoholism more efficacious than a more generalized medicational approach to treatment? One of the most important factors for alcoholics treatment is good and proper therapeutic relationship with patients and setting up individually specialized treatment program is also important.

Keywords