S19 * ESBRA/EASL JOINT SYMPOSIUM: CURRENT THERAPY OF PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE * S19.1 * THERAPY OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Abstract

The treatment of alcohol addiction includes a combination of pharmacological and psychotherapeutical treatment. During detoxification, different pharmacological treatment options exist, particularly the use of benzodiazepines (symptome-triggered or fixed-dose regimes) or clomethiazole, which is mainly used in central Europe. Besides these well-established therapies, studies have shown evidence for the application of anticonvulsants like carbamazepine or topiramate, between others. The presentation will give an overview of the current knowledge about pharmacological treatment options for managing alcohol withdrawal. In this context, results from studies on biomarkers will be presented, which can be used for an individualized treatment regime. Several pharmacological options exist for relapse prevention in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients, some well established like disulfiram, acamprosate or naltrexone. Effectiveness and limits of these medications will be discussed, taking into account new studies on already existing compounds like baclofen or topiramate or new developments like nalmefene. Regarding psychotherapeutical treatment of alcohol dependence, several therapeutical approaches have shown effectiveness. This applies for motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), group therapy, family therapy and psychodynamic therapy/interpersonal therapy (IT). In most centers in Germany, a combination of MET and CBT is used to motivate patients and to prevent relapse. New therapeutical approaches like metacognitive therapy for alcohol addiction will be presented and discussed.