[Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of substance use disorders in general hospital (general section)]

Substance use disorders are becoming an increasingly significant problem in general hospitals and hence play a key role in consultation- and liaison psychiatry. Diverse psychotropic effects of various substances mimic psychiatric disorders. An alcohol intoxication can present depressive or manic symptoms, a cannabis delirium can present as a psychosis while stimulants use can suggest the diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Obtaining dual diagnoses by identifying substance-induced and non-substance-induced psychopathologies is clinically challenging.The aim of this article is to systematically describe the psychopathology, pathophysiology and therapeutic options of substance-use disorders particularly relevant for consultation and liaison psychiatry.