Alcoholism Questions & Answers

Updated: Aug 25, 2022
  • Author: Warren Thompson, MD, FACP; Chief Editor: Glen L Xiong, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is mortality rate associated with alcoholism?

How is alcoholism diagnosed?

What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

What are the signs and symptoms of delirium tremens associated with alcoholism?

What are the signs and symptoms of chronic alcoholism?

What are possible complications of alcoholism?

Which indirect biomarkers are used to detect the toxic effects of alcohol?

Which blood alcohol levels are reliable indicators of alcoholism?

Which ethyl glucuronide (EtG) findings suggest alcoholism?

What is the first step in treatment of alcoholism?

What are treatment options for alcoholism?

What are the manifestations of chronic alcoholism?

Which organ systems are affected by alcoholism?

What is the pathogenesis of alcoholism?

How does education affect the likelihood of alcoholism in the US?

What percentage of US adults drink alcohol?

What is the prevalence of alcoholism in the US?

How does socioeconomic status affect the likelihood of alcoholism in the US?

What factors increase the risk of alcohol dependence?

What is the incidence of binge drinking in the US?

What is the prevalence of comorbid mental disorders and alcoholism?

What is the mortality rate associated with alcoholism?

What is the global incidence of alcohol-related mortality?

How harmful is alcohol compared to other misused substances?

What are the maladies associated the consumption of 4 or more daily drinks of alcohol?

What are the benefits and risks to moderate alcohol consumption?

How is binge drinking defined, and what are the risks?

What are alcohol-related risks to children and families?

What is the relationship between alcoholism and smoking?

What is fetal alcohol syndrome?

How does the prevalence of alcoholism vary by race?

How does the prevalence of alcoholism vary by sex?

How does the prevalence of alcoholism vary by age?

Presentation

How is the CAGE questionnaire administered to screen from alcohol misuse?

How is alcoholism diagnosed?

Which factors lead to misdiagnosis of alcohol-related problems?

What are the USPSTF recommendations for alcohol misuse screening?

Which alcohol misuse screening tools are recommended by the USPSTF?

What is the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT)?

How are alcohol screening tests administered?

What are the 4 questions asked to screen from alcohol misuse in the CAGE questionnaire?

Which CAGE questionnaire answers indicate an increased likelihood of alcohol dependence?

What is the sensitivity of the CAGE questionnaire for alcohol misuse screening?

What are the limitations of the CAGE questionnaire for alcohol misuse screening?

What does the diagnosis of alcohol dependence rely on?

What are the DSM-5 criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder?

What are the different severity levels of Alcohol Use Disorder?

What is the difference between early and sustained remission is Alcohol Use Disorder?

What is a controlled environment according to DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder criteria?

Which questions may be helpful to ask when screening for alcoholism?

What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

What are the signs and symptoms of delirium tremens (DTs)?

What are some signs and symptoms of chronic alcoholism?

What are the signs and symptoms of alcoholism-related Wernicke encephalopathy?

What are the signs and symptoms of alcoholism-related Korsakoff syndrome?

What are the signs and symptoms of alcoholism-related hepatic encephalopathy?

How are psychiatric disorders and alcoholism differentiated?

What is the role of a mental status exam in the evaluation of alcoholism?

What is the genetic etiology of alcoholism?

What do twin studies reveal about the inheritability of alcoholism?

What have adoptive studies revealed about the inheritability of alcoholism among males?

What 2 types of male alcoholism have been proposed?

What have adoptive studies revealed about the inheritability of alcoholism among females?

What factors have been shown to increase the likelihood of later development of alcohol dependence?

What are the psychological theories of alcoholism?

DDX

Which mental health disorders may be included in a dual diagnosis with alcohol use disorder?

Which other types of drug abuse should be included in the differential diagnosis of alcoholism?

What is prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and alcoholism?

What is the prevalence of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism?

What are the differential diagnoses for Alcoholism?

Workup

What is the role of biomarkers in the diagnosis of alcoholism?

What is the reliability of biological measures for the detection of alcohol use disorders?

What are the types of alcohol biomarkers?

How are indirect alcohol biomarkers used to detect the toxic effects of alcohol?

How are direct alcohol biomarkers used to detect the toxic effects of alcohol?

When is a toxicology screen indicated in the evaluation of alcoholism?

Treatment

What are the indications for inpatient treatment of alcoholism?

How does brief advice from a physician early in alcoholism affect prognosis?

How is alcoholism categorized?

What is the initial treatment of alcoholism?

How should the diagnosis of alcoholism be presented?

What is the significance of readiness to change in the treatment of alcoholism?

What are the 5 stages of change for patients with alcoholism?

What is the precontemplation stage of change for alcoholism?

What is the contemplation stage of change for alcoholism?

When does the preparation phase of change for alcoholism begin?

What is the action stage of change for alcoholism?

What is the maintenance stage of change for alcoholism?

What is the significance of stages of change for alcoholism?

What is the role of the physician in the stages of change for alcoholism?

What is the AA 12-step approach for the treatment of alcoholism?

What can increase the likelihood of success of AA for the treatment of alcoholism?

What information about AA should a physician provide to patients with alcoholism?

What are sources of help for patients with alcoholism?

What are treatment options for alcoholism?

When are specialist consultations indicated in the management of alcoholism?

What are dietary modifications for patients with alcoholism?

Guidelines

What are the USPSTF guidelines for alcoholism screening in primary care settings?

What are the APA treatment guidelines for alcoholism?

Medications

How is alcohol withdrawal treated?

Which medications are used for the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the role of naltrexone in the treatment of alcoholism?

How should naltrexone be administered in the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the role of nalmefene in the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the efficacy of opioid antagonists in the treatment of alcohol dependence?

What is the role of antidepressants in the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the efficacy of acamprosate in the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the efficacy of naltrexone in the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the role of gabapentin in the treatment of alcoholism?

What is the role of antibiotics in the treatment of alcoholism?

Which medications in the drug class Opiate antagonists are used in the treatment of Alcoholism?

Which medications in the drug class Aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors are used in the treatment of Alcoholism?

Which medications in the drug class Glutamate receptor blockers are used in the treatment of Alcoholism?

Follow-up

Why is frequent follow-up needed during recovery from alcoholism?

What are warning signs of alcoholism relapse?

What strategies are needed during the recovery phase of alcoholism treatment?

What factors are required for a patient with alcoholism to make a successful recovery?

What can aid in recovery from alcoholism?

What techniques can be used to cope with the urge to drink in patients with alcoholism?

How are alcoholic relapses managed?

What effect does public endorsement of treatment of alcoholism have on patient services?

What is the prognosis of alcoholism?

What information about alcoholism should patients and their families receive?