Impact of the hormonal milieu on the neurobiology of alcohol dependence and withdrawal.

Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is a complex disorder with withdrawal symptoms that are often problematic for those trying to recover from their dependence. As researchers attempt to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol dependence and withdrawal, it is becoming clear that numerous factors, including the hormonal environment, impact the manifestations of this disorder. Of particular interest is the observation that women have fewer and less severe withdrawal symptoms than do men even though they tend to suffer greater physiological harm from excessive alcohol consumption. In this article, the authors present an overview of their understanding of how gonadal and stress hormones interact with alcohol, which results in differential neurobiological responses between males and females. Thus far, data generated from representative animal models have shown significant differences between the sexes in behavioral responses and neuroadaptations to chronic alcohol consumption and withdrawal. Accumulating evidence suggests that treatment of alcoholism, including withdrawal, should be tailored to the patient's gender and hormonal status.