Neurobiology Linking Alcohol Addiction to Psychiatry Symptoms
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cannabinoid; addiction; psychiatry; neurology; translational research; molecular biology; neuropsychopharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: cannabinoid; addiction; psychiatry; neurology; translational research; molecular biology; neuropsychopharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The comorbidity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) with psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia poses a significant challenge to neuroscience and clinical research. This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explores the neurobiological substrates that may explain the high co-occurrence of these conditions. Current evidence suggests that these conditions interact in complex ways through genetic vulnerability, neuroinflammatory processes, and dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems, particularly the cannabinoid, opioidergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic pathways.
These alterations lead to maladaptive neuroplasticity within reward and stress-related circuits. Furthermore, alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and neuroimmune signalling may contribute to the development and persistence of comorbid states. Advanced molecular and imaging approaches, as well as integrative multi-omics analyses, offer new opportunities to discover the causal mechanisms linking alcohol dependence with psychiatric symptoms.
Thus, it is crucial to explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of AUD and psychiatric disorders to identify relevant biomarkers that may contribute to improving the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies for patients with this dual pathology. We invite original research articles (basic or clinical) and reviews (narrative or systematic) that address these mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Contributions that bridge preclinical and clinical findings or identify novel therapeutic targets based on shared neurobiological pathways are particularly welcome. By deepening our understanding of these interconnected mechanisms, this Special Issue aims to promote translational strategies for the prevention and treatment of AUD–psychiatric comorbidities, providing new insights into the relevant neurobiological hallmarks from translational and sex- and gender-based perspectives.
Prof. Dr. Jorge Manzanares
Dr. Francisco Navarrete
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- alcohol use disorder (AUD)
- psychiatry
- neurobiology
- biomarkers
- translational
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