What is the Origin of Alcohol Use Disorder?

The term is clinical, formally originating from diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5, combining "alcohol" from the Arabic al-kuhl, meaning essence, and "disorder," signifying a state of disarray. Its modern clinical application reflects a crucial shift from viewing excessive drinking as a moral failing to recognizing it as a legitimate physiological and psychological health condition. The understanding of its underlying biological basis solidifies its placement within the context of human physiology and pathology.

What is the Mechanism of Alcohol Use Disorder?

Ethanol acts on the central nervous system, modulating key neurotransmitter systems like GABA and glutamate, which indirectly impacts the neuroendocrine stress response. Chronic consumption leads to adrenal gland hypertrophy and persistently elevated baseline cortisol levels, a state of hypercortisolism that can suppress the production of reproductive hormones like testosterone and estrogen. This significant hormonal imbalance further contributes to systemic physiological deterioration, metabolic dysfunction, and impaired immune surveillance.

Alcohol Use Disorder ∞ Area

Alcohol Use Disorder

Meaning

Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol seeking and use, loss of control over intake, and a negative emotional state when not using. In the domain of hormonal health, this disorder profoundly disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to chronic stress hormone dysregulation. Sustained alcohol exposure alters the delicate balance of critical neuroendocrine signaling pathways. This clinical diagnosis reflects a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors.