The last three decades have seen an explosion of social, psychological and clinical research to identify effective strategies to prevent and treat alcohol-related problems. This “Essential Handbook” contains an updated selection of reviews of “what works” drawn from the critically acclaimed International Handbook of Alcohol Dependence and Problems. Selected specifically for health and other professionals, who need to provide effective responses in their work, these authoritative, science-based reviews are a distillation of the more practical elements, designed to save time for the busy practitioner.

Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy: A Series of Monographs, Texts, and Treatises: Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems: A Resource Manual focuses on the application of information gained through clinical experience and research in the treatment and prevention of alcohol problems. The selection first offers information on an overview of treatment and prevention of alcohol problems; beginning treatment for alcohol problems; and assessment of multiple conditions in persons with alcohol problems. Discussions focus on multiple-condition concepts and measures, therapeutic relationship, treatment contacts, dealing with associated problems and special populations, early intervention and prevention, and treatment techniques. The text then elaborates on the medical aspects of alcoholism, behavioral treatment of alcohol problems, and building self-confidence, self- efficacy, and self-control. The publication takes a look at imagery and logotherapeutic techniques in psychotherapy and self-help groups and other group procedures for treating alcohol problems, including historical development of group procedures, logotherapy and treatment for alcoholism, and imagery methods and treatment for alcoholism. The manuscript also examines the prevention of alcohol problems and the theory and methods for secondary prevention of alcohol problems. The selection is a dependable source of data for researchers interested in the treatment and prevention of alcohol problems. A resource manual for the treatment and prevention of alcohol problems The contributors represent the major innovators in the field Covered in detail are: initiating treatment, specific treatment techniques, associated problems and special populations, early intervention and prevention

The guideline focuses specifically on evidence-based pharmacological treatments for AUD in outpatient settings and includes additional information on assessment and treatment planning, which are an integral part of using pharmacotherapy to treat AUD.

The Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Problems have been periodically developed over the past 25 years. In 1993, the first version of these guidelines, titled: ‘An outline for the management of alcohol problems: Quality assurance in the treatment of drug dependence project’ was published (Mattick & Jarvis 1993). The Australian Government commissioned an update a decade later (Shand et al. 2003) and a further edition in 2009 to integrate the Guidelines with the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol (National Health and Medical Research Council, NHMRC 2009; Haber et al., 2009). The present version of the Guidelines was also commissioned by the Commonwealth of Australia to remain current and integrated with the updated NHMRC consumption guidelines (2020). In order to ensure that guidelines remain relevant, the next set of guidelines should be updated in 2025, consistent with NHMRC recommendation that guidelines be updated every five years. These guidelines aim to provide up-to-date, evidence-based information to clinicians on available treatments for people with alcohol problems and are largely directed towards individual clinicians in practice, such as primary care physicians (general practitioners, nursing staff), specialist medical practitioners, psychologists and other counsellors, and other health professionals. Some chapters highlight service or system level issues that impact on clinicians and their patients. These include recommendations concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, stigma, and discrimination. Elsewhere, organisation capacity is implied, such as medical resources for withdrawal management where recommendations indicate use of medications. As all forms of treatment will not be readily available or suitable for all populations or settings, these guidelines may require interpretation and adaptation.