Title : A psychoneuroimmunology approach to alcohol use disorder treatment a systematic review of the literature
Abstract:
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent yet profoundly under-treated condition, characterized by its heterogeneity, which significantly complicates the development of universally effective interventions. As a result, existing treatments often fail to address the diverse needs of individuals with AUD, offering limited symptomatic relief and contributing to alarmingly high relapse rates. This inadequacy not only perpetuates individual suffering but also imposes a substantial economic burden on both governmental systems and the families of those affected. Given the widespread prevalence of addiction and its associated health, social, and financial costs, there is a critical need to explore and develop novel, multifaceted approaches to AUD treatment that can enhance care delivery, improve patient outcomes, and ultimately benefit affected individuals and their communities.
In this context, the rapidly expanding field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) offers a promising avenue for advancing our understanding of AUD and developing more effective therapeutic strategies. PNI primarily investigates the intricate interactions between psychological processes, the nervous system, and the immune system, with a particular focus on stress—a concept intimately linked to AUD, as both alcohol consumption and withdrawal serve as significant physiological stressors. This qualitative literature review aims to address two pivotal questions: (1) How can advances in PNI deepen our understanding of the immune and neural alterations associated with alcohol abuse? and (2) What emerging treatment strategies hold the greatest promise for improving outcomes in individuals with AUD? Therefore, a comprehensive overview of AUD by examining its prevalence, motivational factors, challenges in achieving sustained remission, and the neurobiological insults associated with the disorder will be discussed. Furthermore, this review will explore the intersection between AUD and PNI, emphasizing the mechanisms, efficacy, and tolerability of potential immune-based pharmacotherapeutic targets for future interventions.
