Molecular Aspect of Alcohol Addiction and its Comorbidities with Affective Disorders

Comorbidity between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and affective disorders is a major cause of disease burden worldwide. The co-occurrence of these psychiatric disorders is associated with more severe symptoms and poorer treatment outcomes than either of the conditions alone. Substantial evidence indicates that these disorders share common risk factors as well as involve similar neuronal pathways. A better understanding of the neurobiological basis underlying co-occurring AUD and affective disorders may therefore facilitate the development of better pharmacological treatments. Furthermore, epidemiological studies indicate that women have higher prevalence of co-occurring AUD and affective disorders. For example, Kessler and colleagues found that 35.8% of men that suffer from AUD had a co-occurring anxiety disorder, compared to 60.7 % in women. Women are also more likely to drink to cope with stressful conditions than men, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms underlying comorbid AUD and affective disorders may differ between sex.

Although there is a growing interest in comorbid disorders, little is known about their shared underlying mechanisms. This research topic aims to collect the latest research investigating the common neurobiological mechanisms underlying co-occurring AUD and affective disorders, including anxiety disorders, post traumatic disorder, and major depression.

We will consider Original Research articles and Reviews articles on:
• Genetics/ epigenetics changes common to both AUD and affective disorders
• Brain pathways involved in both disorders
• Pharmacological approaches for co-occurring AUD and affective disorders
• Possible difference between men and women in molecular mechanisms/ brain circuits involved in co-occurring AUD and affective disorders.