アルコール依存症とは―診断，治療

What is alcohol dependence?―Diagnosis and treatment

アルコール依存症は飲酒コントロールが困難となるために，様々な身体的・精神的・社会的問題などを呈する疾患であり，日本全体で60万人程度存在すると推定されている．アルコール依存症の発見には飲酒に関する問診，γ-GTPやMCVなどの検査，スクリーニングテストなどがあるが，患者が否認する場合も多く注意を要する．日本の一般的なアルコール専門医療機関では，勉強会・家族会などの患者・家族への講義や心理教育，酒歴発表，自助グループ見学・参加，抗酒薬処方，個人・集団精神療法，作業・運動療法などを組み合わせた治療を行い，断酒継続を支援している．アルコール依存症は発症の予防や，断酒による回復が可能であり，医療機関を含め諸機関の協力による予防が重要である．

Alcohol dependence is a disease that is characterized by a variety of problems, including physical, mental, and social problems, because of difficulty controlling alcohol consumption, and it is estimated that about 600000 people nationwide are alcohol-dependent in Japan.　Medical history taken in regard to alcohol consumption, laboratory tests, including γ-GTP (γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) and MCV (mean corpuscular volume) measurements, screening tests, etc. are available as means of detecting alcohol dependence, but caution is required, because patients often deny such dependence despite scientific evidence.　In Japan, combined treatment by means of classes for patients and their families, such as study meetings and family meetings, psycho-educational therapy, drinking history presentations, observation and participation in self-help groups, prescription of anti-alcoholic agents, individual and group psychotherapy, occupational and exercise therapy, etc., is performed in general medical institutions that specialize in the treatment of alcohol dependence, and it supports continued abstinence.　Prevention of the development of alcohol dependence and recovery as a result of abstinence are possible, and prevention by cooperation between various institutions, including healthcare institutions, is important.