Lifelong Learning: The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder-View Article

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The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has released a practice guideline for the pharmacological treatment of patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The goal of the guideline is to improve the quality of care and treatment outcomes for individuals with AUD. The guideline focuses on evidence-based pharmacological treatments for AUD, as well as assessment and treatment planning. AUD is a significant public health issue, with an estimated 12-month prevalence of 8.5% worldwide and 13.9% in the United States. Despite the availability of effective treatments, AUD remains undertreated, with less than 10% of individuals in the US receiving any form of treatment and even fewer receiving evidence-based care. The guideline recommends the use of medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, topiramate, and gabapentin for the treatment of AUD, depending on the individual's goals and preferences. The guideline also provides recommendations against the use of antidepressant medications and benzodiazepines for the treatment of AUD. The guideline emphasizes the importance of comprehensive and person-centered treatment plans that include both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. The guideline was developed using a transparent process that rated the strength of research evidence and recommendations, and it is endorsed by the APA Board of Trustees. The full guideline provides more detailed information on the specific recommendations and the research evidence supporting them.

Keywords

American Psychiatric Association

practice guideline

pharmacological treatment

Alcohol Use Disorder

treatment outcomes

evidence-based treatments

prevalence

undertreated

medications

comprehensive treatment plans