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Alcohol and the brain

Pharmacological insights for psychiatrists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

David Nutt
David Nutt*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Psychopharmacology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol BS8 ITD. Tel: 0117 925 3066: Fax: 0117 927 7057: e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Alcohol misuse, as well as being a major form of psychiatric morbidity, is also commonly associated with other psychiatric disorders. A greater understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of alcohol is now possible, thanks to significant research advances made over the past decade.

Aims

To elucidate for psychiatrists the growing knowledge of the importance of specific neurotransmitter interactions in the effects of alcohol.

Method

A survey of the literature, extracting current knowledge of interest to psychiatrists.

Results

There is good evidence that the acute effects of alcohol are mediated through interactions with amino acid neurotransmitters plus parallel changes in amines such as noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. Neuroadaptive responses at amino acid receptors probably underlie significant components of the withdrawal syndrome and probably also contribute to neuronal death found in chronic alcoholism.

Conclusions

An understanding of the pharmacology of alcohol use may lead to greater ability to treat psychiatric consequences of alcoholism, and may also prevent some of the secondary psychiatric comorbidity and later brain damage.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 2 , August 1999 , pp. 114 - 119
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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