[Role of endogenous neuropeptides in the pathomechanism of alcohol addiction]

Recent studies with endogenous neuropeptides have indicated their modulating role in the etiology of alcoholism. The role of endogenous opioids is relatively well known and there is growing evidence for a role of the appetite-regulating peptides leptin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, galanin, and orexins. It has been demonstrated that these peptides could also be involved in alcohol intake regulation and the occurrence of alcohol craving. Moreover, important significance is attached to corticotrophin-releasing factor, since an increased level of this peptide during alcohol withdrawal is responsible for the occurrence of anxiety behaviors. Knowledge of the processes tied with neuropeptides is needed in the search for more effective therapy for alcohol addiction as their actions could perhaps facilitate the search for new medicines which would adapt the therapy to the individual patient as well as contribute to increasing the effectiveness of alcohol addiction therapy.