The question how alcohol alters mood states and why this may end up becoming an addiction is
puzzling alcohol researchers since decades. In this volume an assembly of highly distinguished
experts and leaders in alcohol addiction research provides lucid presentations of the current
knowledge and research challenges as well as interesting viewpoints on future research
directions aimed to stimulate communication and convergence between clinical and preclinical
researchers and to renew interest in the vibrant field of alcohol addiction research among a
wide scientifically minded audience. Five Current Topics are discussed in this volume:
Neurobiological mechanisms of alcoholism Genetics Clinical phenotypes and their preclinical
models Brain imaging and Translational approaches for treatment development both
pharmacological and non-pharmacological. These areas have in our opinion brought alcohol
research substantially forward and influenced our thinking about how to reach our common
paramount goal namely to offer effective treatment solutions for an extensive group of
patients with largely unmet medical needs.
