Summary of recommendations vii
1. Introduction 1
• Purpose of the guidelines 1
• Structure of the guidelines 1
• Evidence-based health care 3
• Community and population approaches to alcohol problems 4
• A note on terminology 4

2. Prevalence of alcohol consumption and related harms in Australia 7
• Prevalence of alcohol use 7
• Alcohol-related harm 8

3. Screening, assessment and treatment planning 13
• Screening 13
• Comprehensive clinical assessment 21
• Treatment planning 32

4. Brief interventions 41
• Who to target for brief interventions 41
• How to deliver brief interventions 42
• Who can deliver brief interventions? 43
• Where should brief interventions be delivered? 43
• Limitations of brief intervention 45

5. Alcohol withdrawal management 49
• Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Clinical presentation 49
• Assessment and treatment matching 51
• Supportive care 57
• Medications for managing alcohol withdrawal 61
• Treating severe withdrawal complications 68
• Wernicke–Korsakoff’s syndrome 76

6. Psychosocial interventions for alcohol use disorders 81
• Overview of psychosocial interventions 81
• When to use psychosocial interventions 82
• Choosing psychosocial interventions: a stepped care approach 82
• Motivational interviewing 85
• Cognitive behavioural interventions 86
• Relapse prevention strategies 89
• Residential rehabilitation programs 89

7. Pharmacotherapies for alcohol dependence 93
• Naltrexone 93
• Acamprosate 96
• Combined acamprosate and naltrexone 98
• Disulfiram 98
• Other medications 101
• Integration with psychosocial treatments 102
• Increasing medication adherence 102
• Selecting medications for individual patients 103

8. Self-help programs 107
• Alcoholics Anonymous 107
• SMART RecoveryR 110
• Self-help for families 111

9. Specific populations 115
• Adolescents and young people 115
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women 121
• Indigenous Australians and people from other cultures 130
• Older people 135
• Cognitively impaired patients 138

10. Comorbidities 145
• Physical comorbidity 145
• Co-occurring mental and alcohol-use disorders 147
• Polydrug use and dependence 153

11. Aftercare and long-term follow-up 161
• Aftercare 161
• Working with the persistent problem drinker 161

Appendixes 165
• Appendix 1 Screening and diagnostic instruments 167
• Appendix 2 Diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders 195
• Appendix 3 Withdrawal scales 197
• Appendix 4 Alcohol and drug interactions 202
• Appendix 5 Getting through alcohol withdrawal: A guide for patients and carers 205
• Appendix 6 A guide for people with alcohol-related problems 208
• Appendix 7 Disulfiram Agreement 213
• Appendix 8 Treatment guidelines for mental disorders 214
• Appendix 9 Standard drinks 215

Glossary 221
Acronyms 225
References 229

Available Versions of this Item

• Guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems. (deposited 11 Jul 2013 13:32) [Currently Displayed]
  • Guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems. (deposited 28 May 2021 08:34)