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Background Many concerns about liver transplantation in alcoholic patients are related to the risk of alcohol recidivism. Starting from 2002, an Alcohol Addiction Unit was formed within the Liver Transplant Centre for the management of alcoholic patients affected by end-stage liver disease and included in the waiting list for transplantation. We evaluated retrospectively the impact of the Alcohol Addiction Unit on alcohol recidivism after transplantation. The relationship between alcohol recidivism and the duration of alcohol abstinence before transplant was evaluated as well. Methods Between 1995 and 2010, 92 cirrhotic alcoholic patients underwent liver transplantation. Clinical evaluation and management of alcohol use in these patients was provided by psychiatrists with expertise in addiction medicine not affiliated to the Liver Transplant Centre before 2002 (n=37; group A), or by the clinical staff of the Alcohol Addiction Unit within the Liver Transplant Centre starting from 2002 (n=55; group B). Results Group B, as compared to group A, showed a significantly lower prevalence of alcohol recidivism (16.4% vs. 35.1%; p=0.038) and a significantly lower mortality (14.5% vs. 37.8%; p=0.01). Furthermore, an analysis of group B patients with either ≥6 months or <6 months of alcohol abstinence before transplantation showed no difference in the rate of alcohol recidivism (21.1% vs. 15.4%; p=ns). Conclusions The presence of an Alcohol Addiction Unit within a Liver Transplant Centre reduces the risk of alcohol recidivism after transplantation. A pre-transplant abstinence period <6 months might be considered, at least in selected patients managed by an Alcohol Addiction Unit.

Within our sample showing low ghrelin levels probably related to the impaired nutritional status; patients with higher levels of ghrelin showed higher levels of alcohol craving. These preliminary data indicate that ghrelin could be implicated in the neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol craving, other than a hormone influenced by the nutritional status.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome may develop within 6–24 hours after the abrupt discontinuation or decrease of alcohol consumption. Symptoms can vary from autonomic hyperactivity and agitation to delirium tremens. The gold-standard treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome is represented by benzodiazepines. Among them, different agents (i.e., long-acting or short-acting) and different regimens (front-loading, fixed dose or symptom-triggered) may be chosen on the basis of patient characteristics. Severe withdrawal could require ICU admission and the use of barbiturates or propofol. Other drugs, such as alpha2-agonists (clonidine and dexmetedomidine) and beta-blockers can be used as adjunctive treatments to control neuroautonomic hyperactivity. Furthermore, neuroleptics can help control hallucinations. Finally, other medications for the treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome have been investigated with promising results. These include carbamazepine, valproate, sodium oxybate, baclofen, gabapentin, and topiramate. The usefulness of these agents will be discussed in the text.

Most of the patients who seek medical consultation for gastrointestinal problems show an associated affective disorder. These patients should be managed by a team including gastroenterologists, psychologists and/or psychiatrists, or by a gastroenterologist having expertise in the treatment of psychological disorders.

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Patients affected by brain tumors frequently experience affective disorders. After brain surgery, a depressive state can develop. The psychometric assessment could be useful in these patients for quick recognition of psychological disorders.

Despite the limited number of cases evaluated, the present study showed a significantly higher prevalence of social phobia in CD patients compared with in healthy subjects. Future studies are needed to clarify the possible social phobia-induced risks such as school and/or work failure in CD patients.