Advancing Precision Medicine for Alcohol Use Disorders-View Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The symposium discussed significant advancements in precision medicine, diagnostics, and therapeutics concerning alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its common comorbidities such as PTSD. Dr. Nancy Diaz-Granados, from the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, highlighted the use of neurocognitive markers to enhance diagnostic and treatment precision for individuals with AUD. She described the inadequacies of the current DSM-5 diagnostic system, using case studies to illustrate how diverse patient histories complicate prognosis and treatment outcomes. She emphasized the need for improved diagnostics incorporating genetic, molecular, and imaging techniques, akin to approaches in oncology. <br /><br />Following, a presentation demonstrated reanalyses of major AUD treatment trials using computational models to understand which patient subgroups respond to specific treatments. This method seeks to identify responsive subgroups for drugs like gabapentin and topiramate, significantly improving treatment outcomes by tailoring interventions based on specific clinical and biological features, such as genetic risk factors and executive function impairments.<br /><br />Dr. Nancy Sugarman explored the potential for digital interventions to support women with AUD. Given cultural and social trends that have normalized alcohol use among women, her study developed a gender-specific digital program aimed at addressing unique barriers faced by women in treatment. The digital format offered an accessible, engaging medium for addressing co-occurring disorders and trauma, crucial for personalized treatment.<br /><br />Overall, the symposium underscored technological and computational innovations, emphasizing a shift toward personalized, precision approaches for treating AUD. These endeavors aim to refine existing therapeutic strategies and implement early detection and intervention measures, advancing the field of psychiatry.

Keywords

precision medicine

alcohol use disorder

comorbidities

neurocognitive markers

DSM-5

genetic techniques

computational models

gabapentin

topiramate

digital interventions

gender-specific treatment

personalized treatment