Of untreated AUD patients, 21% were able to remain abstinent for up to one year after an initial hospital admittance (Moyer & Finney, 2002). With standard psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment, abstinence rates may increase by 4–22%, depending on treatment intensity and follow-up duration (Miller, Walters, & Bennett, 2001; Monahan & Finney, 1996; Pettinati & Rabinowitz, 2006). Thus, current AUD treatments are only mildly to moderately effective. A better understanding of the physiological changes and molecular mechanisms underlying AUD may improve treatment options. In vivo imaging techniques, by allowing for longitudinal observations of alcoholism throughout the course of the disease can unravel disease processes and may potentially contribute to the development of improved medications.
