Objective: Alcohol-related disorders typically have an early onset. However, current treatment provisions often fail to address developmental aspects adequately. Recently, the new evidence- and interdisciplinary consensus-based German S3-guideline (National Clinical Practice Guideline) was established for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol-related disorders in young patients. For the first time it includes population-specific recommendations.
Method: For this new S3-guideline, 23 source guidelines, 28 systematic reviews, and 2,213 study reports were analyzed. An interdisciplinary consensus conference devised 174 recommendations with 14 specific recommendations for children and adolescents. Depending on the quality of evidence, they issued “must,” “should,” and “can” recommendations or a “clinical consensus point (CCP).“
Results: For the psychotherapeutic treatment of children and adolescents with alcohol-related disorders, a “must” recommendation was devised for motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and inclusion of family members in treatment. Recommendations for family-based therapies are heterogeneous. For psychosocial therapies (psychoeducation, parent counseling, ergotherapy, also hospital schools) a CCP was devised. Concerning pharmacological treatment, the evidence base was insufficient; only for treating comorbid disorders (ADHS) could a CCP be derived. As to differential indications, elevated risks for suicide, for treatment dropout, and for delinquency influenced by copatients should be considered (CCP).
Conclusions: Numerous population-specific recommendations have been issued for the treatment of alcohol-related disorders in youths. However, urgent research requirements have been identified especially in medical drug treatment.
Keywords: National Clinical Practice Guideline; addiction; alcohol; interdisciplinary; youth.