Clinical guidelines for amnestic syndrome have been approved.

According to the definition, amnestic syndrome induced by alcohol use (AC, F10.6) is a disorder characterized by persistent, often irreversible impairment of short-term and/or long-term memory, which is manifested to a greater extent in the loss of the ability to memorize new things and to a lesser extent in a decrease in memory for events preceding the illness.

The etiology is a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) in the central nervous system. It is traditionally believed that AS develops after severe alcohol-induced psychosis. The regulator cites Finnish statistics as an example: from 1998 to 2015, the prevalence of alcohol-induced AS was 3.7 cases per 100,000 population among men and 1.2 cases among women. The standardized mortality rate was 5.67 cases. Data on the prevalence of AS in the Russian population have not been published, while the overall incidence of alcohol dependence syndrome in 2022 was 1.1 million people, equivalent to 802 cases per 100,000 population, of which alcoholic psychosis occurred in 35,400 patients (24.4 cases).

The Ministry of Health stated in its document that a diagnosis can be made by a psychiatrist specializing in addiction if the patient has impaired memory of recent events and a reduced ability to recall past experiences. This diagnosis should be based on the absence of signs such as attention deficit, perception/thinking disorder, or severe intellectual impairment (dementia), as well as objective data from a physical and neurological examination and laboratory tests. It is recommended that a medical history be collected not only from the patient but also from their relatives.

Treatment for amnestic syndrome is carried out on an outpatient or inpatient basis. The Ministry of Health notes that there is currently no specific treatment protocol. The primary recommendation is abstinence from alcohol, but doctors are nevertheless prescribed a list of medications to stabilize or improve cognitive function, including memantine, thiamine, and other psychostimulants and nootropics. If psychomotor agitation, aggression, or behavioral disturbances develop, antipsychotic medications are recommended.

For mild cases, the agency recommends psychotherapy (motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy). Treatment is considered effective if it stabilizes the patient's psychophysical condition and reduces the incidence of adverse events. These events will be recorded based on spontaneous patient reports, physical examination, blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature, as well as laboratory and instrumental studies.

Rehabilitation measures are aimed at improving cognitive functions, increasing daily efficiency, and enhancing the patient's independence. Doctors recommend that all patients undergo cognitive training (specific memory training).

Outpatient observation will be carried out in accordance with the Procedure for Outpatient Observation of Persons with Mental Disorders and/or Behavioral Disorders Associated with the Use of Psychoactive Substances.

This procedure is included in Ministry of Health Order No. 1034n of December 30, 2015, as Appendix No. 2. A separate document of the same name, regulating the monitoring of such patients, may come into force on September 1, 2026. According to the draft, the ministry proposed establishing four monitoring groups, one of which is for patients with mental disorders caused by alcohol use.