SynthesisCurrent neuropharmacology2023
Symptoms of Protracted Alcohol Withdrawal in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.
Synthesis in Current neuropharmacology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Characterizing reward and relief/habit drinking profiles in a study of naltrexone, varenicline, and placebo.Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) · 2024Trial
- Cholinergic regulation of prolonged alcohol withdrawal differs by sex.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia During Early Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder Among Veterans.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025Article
- Investigation and analysis of factors related to sleep conditions during the acute withdrawal period of alcohol use disorder.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is characterized by different phases (acute, early and protracted). Protracted alcohol withdrawal (PAW) presents some symptoms, which may persist for several weeks, months or even years after drinking cessation.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of the literature in major scientific databases on selected AWS symptoms (craving, sleep disorders, and anhedonia) in patients with alcohol use disorder.
resultsOf the 102 eligible publications (70 RCTs and 32 cohort studies), 88 provided data on craving, 21 on sleep disorders, and 1 on anhedonia. Overall, 37 studies assessed craving using the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). Pooled OCDS decreased from 24.2 at baseline to 18.8 at 1 week, 10.3 at 1 month and 9.7 at 3 months. The corresponding estimates for treated individuals were 23.9, 18.8, 8.7, and 8.8, and for non-treated subjects, they were 25.3, 13.9, 13.2, and 11.4, respectively. In 4 studies assessing sleep disorders using the Epworth Sleeping Scale (ESS), the scale remained stable in time, i.e., 7.3 at baseline, 7.3 at 1 week, 7.2 at 1 month, and 7.1 at 3 months.
conclusionThis study confirms the presence of PAW after the resolution of the acute phase of AWS. The pharmacological approach to managing PAW may ensure a more rapid reduction of symptoms in three weeks. We highlight the importance of studying PAW and the ability of pharmacological treatment to reduce its symptoms. This review protocol is registered in Prospero (registration number: CRD42020211265). SUMMARY: This systematic review summarizes literature on major symptoms of protracted alcohol withdrawal in patients with alcohol use disorder. The pharmacological approach to manage protracted alcohol withdrawal ensures a more rapid reduction of symptoms (craving in particular), achieving in three weeks similar results obtained only after almost 6 months without treatment.
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