ALCOHOL USE DISORDER (AUD)
A chronic brain–behaviour condition requiring structured, long-term medical care.
At Psymate Clinic, Alcohol Use Disorder is treated as a medical, neurobiological condition, not a failure of willpower or morality.
Psymate is recognised for pioneering a modern, neuroscience-driven de-addiction model that moves beyond short-term abstinence toward durable recovery and life reintegration.
WHAT IS ALCOHOL USE DISORDER?
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a condition characterised by:
Loss of control over alcohol consumption
Craving and compulsive drinking
Development of tolerance
Continued use despite physical, psychological, or social harm
With repeated exposure, alcohol reprograms brain circuits involved in:
Reward and motivation
Stress regulation
Impulse control
Decision-making
These changes persist even after stopping alcohol, which explains relapse without structured treatment.
HOW ALCOHOL AFFECTS THE BRAIN
Chronic alcohol use leads to:
Hyper-activation of reward pathways
Suppression of natural stress regulation
Impaired prefrontal (control) circuits
Heightened craving under stress
Over time, the brain prioritises alcohol over logic, intention, and consequence.
This is why Alcohol Use Disorder is biological first, behavioural second.
COMMON CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS
Individuals with AUD may experience:
Drinking more or longer than intended
Strong urges or cravings to drink
Failed attempts to cut down
Irritability, anxiety, or insomnia without alcohol
Decline in work performance or relationships
Medical complications (liver, sleep, blood pressure)
Many continue to function outwardly while dependence deepens internally.
PSYMATE’S PIONEERING EVALUATION FRAMEWORK
Alcohol dependence is never evaluated in isolation.
At Psymate, assessment includes:
Pattern, quantity, and context of alcohol use
Craving intensity and triggers
Withdrawal risk and medical safety
Co-existing psychiatric conditions
Stress, trauma, and emotional regulation capacity
Prior treatment and relapse history
This allows precision formulation, not generic detox planning.
PSYMATE’S DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT MODEL FOR ALCOHOL
Psymate pioneered a multi-phase, neuroscience-anchored recovery framework:
Safe assessment of withdrawal risk
- Symptom control when needed
- Avoidance of unnecessary sedation
Stabilisation is medical, not custodial.
Mapping craving circuits
- Identifying relapse triggers
- Understanding stress-alcohol linkage
This step is often skipped elsewhere — Psymate treats it as central.
- Craving management
- Mood and sleep regulation
- Careful medication use, reviewed continuously
Psychotherapy
- Motivation stabilisation
- Impulse control training
- Stress tolerance and emotional regulation
- Relapse prevention strategies
- Modulate craving and reward circuits
- Reduce impulsive drive toward alcohol
- Improve cognitive control under stress
- Support recovery without systemic medication burden
Unlike sedatives or deterrents, rTMS:
- Acts directly on brain circuits
- Does not cause sedation or dependency
- Allows full daily functioning
Recovery is consolidated through:
- Routine rebuilding
- Stress management strategies
- Sleep and circadian stabilisation
- Ongoing monitoring and follow-up
The goal is return to autonomy, not lifelong external control.
CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS (CRITICAL)
At Psymate, alcohol use is always evaluated alongside:
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Trauma-related symptoms
Sleep disorders
Treating alcohol alone leads to relapse. Psymate’s outcomes are driven by integrated dual-diagnosis care.
WHY PSYMATE IS A PIONEER IN ALCOHOL DE-ADDICTION
Early adoption of neuroscience-based addiction models
Integration of precision neuromodulation (rTMS)
Shift from detox-centric to circuit-centric recovery
Ethical, non-coercive, medically governed care
Focus on long-term function, not short-term abstinence
WHEN TO SEEK SPECIALISED CARE
Seek professional help if:
Control over drinking is diminishing
Cravings dominate decisions
Relapses recur despite intent
Alcohol is used to manage stress or sleep
You want recovery without stigma
