Problem drinking as an object of therapeutic intervention

The differences in understanding what alcohol dependence is in clinical practice limit our neurobiological conception to the scope of the most severe manifestations, and the diagnostic dichotomy between dependence and harmful use loses the decisive significance in clinical as well as therapeutic aspects. It is still unclear whether the current conception of alcohol dependence makes treatment more available to patients. Until now, there is evidence demonstrating only that the psychopathological model of alcohol dependence is harmful to those seeking medical care because it implies psychopharmacological treatment based on doubtful indications.