Medical Treatments for Alcoho... Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

Clearly, when you treat those depressions with antidepressants the depression gets better, but it may also have an additive effect on drinking behavior. There seems to be some use of these newer antidepressants, especially the SSRI type of medications, in people with alcoholism in that it will also reduce the amount that they would drink in an episode of drinking. It may also decrease the frequency with which they drink.

None of these things is a panacea. All of these medications only really work well in the context of ongoing treatment, meaning behavioral treatment or psychological treatment.

DAVID MARKS, MD: So they're just another weapon in our armamentarium to treat alcohol abuse.

RICHARD ROSENTHAL, MD: That's correct.

DAVID MARKS, MD: Okay, Carol Weiss, Rick Rosenthal, thank you for joining us. Thank you for joining our webcast. I'm Doctor David Marks.

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