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Gender Differences in Alcohol Dependence

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2006;49(2):142-149
Publication date (electronic) : 2006 February 28
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2006.49.2.142
Eun Lee, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Korea. leeeun@nhimc.or.kr

Abstract

The paper reviews recent advances regarding characteristics and treatment issues of alcohol use disorders in women. Women drink less alcohol but have greater sensitivity of alchol-related problems than men. Recent evidences suggest that women are more likely to have alcohol-related physical problems at smaller amount of drinking than men. Also, they have more alcohol-induced cognitive and emotional disturbances. Alcohol-induced reproductive problems are also specific to women. It may be due to women's unique susceptibility to the toxic effects of alcohol. There are also evidences that women may have more psychiatric problems than men before onset of drinking problems.There was a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in women than in men with alcohol use disorders. All of these differences have important treatment implications. But, more research are needed to discover the nature of gender difference of alcohol drinking.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Alcohol use disorder; Female

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