Alcohol Psychosis - Types And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Alcoholic psychosis

Intoxication through alcohol is a pathological condition that occurs when ethanol is exposed to the central nervous system and is accompanied by inhibition of the functions of the central nervous system. Alcoholic psychosis is a mental disorder caused by persistent alcohol intoxication. Alcoholic psychosis is characterized by specific changes in the central nervous system and internal organs. The peculiarity of such psychoses lies in the manifestation of its symptoms not during the period of intoxication, but after a day or more.

A factor influencing the occurrence of alcoholic psychosis is a disturbed metabolism due to chronic abuse of alcoholic beverages for a period of at least 5 years. There are several types of alcoholic psychoses. Each of them has its own signs of development.

Content:

• Delirium tremens
• Alcoholic hallucinosis
• Alcoholic depression and alcoholic epilepsy
• Alcoholic paranoid and alcoholic delusions of jealousy
• Alcoholic encephalopathy
• Treatment of alcoholic psychosis

Delirium tremens

Alcoholic delirium or delirium tremens is manifested in cases of abrupt cessation of drunkenness or during periods of abstinence from alcohol consumption, when diseases of a somatic nature or trauma join. The primary signs of delirium tremens can be identified by worsened sleep at night, sweating and trembling hands, general fussiness of a person, changing mood in a short period of time. Further, one can observe insomnia, which is joined by hallucinations in the form of cockroaches, flies, cats, mice, and so on, as well as a delusional state.

The patient is in constant motion, he has expressive facial expressions. His movements correspond to the hallucinations present at the moment (defending, hiding). The patient is not correctly oriented in the place of stay, but is well oriented in his personality. His body temperature is subfebrile, and his pulse is racing. If untreated, delirium tremens can last up to 10 days and be complicated by alcoholic encephalopathy. Recovery can be achieved through deep sleep for a long time.

Alcoholic hallucinosis

This type of alcoholic psychosis develops during the period of withdrawal symptoms or at the peak of hard drinking. The most common disorders in this type: hallucinations of the auditory type in combination with delusions, in which the patient is persecuted or destroyed. His mood expresses anxiety and fear. At the beginning of this psychosis, the patient shows excitement, then comes lethargy or orderliness in behavior, which masks the disease. An increase in symptoms occurs at night. Alcoholic hallucinosis lasts 2-21 days, sometimes dragging on for several months.

Alcoholic depression and alcoholic epilepsy

The background for alcoholic depression is withdrawal symptoms. If it is present, the patient is in a state of depression and anxiety, constantly crying. His delusions are filled with ideas of relationships, persecution, self-destruction. In this state, there is a possibility of committing suicide. The psychosis lasts 7-14 days. The characteristic signs of alcoholic epilepsy are seizures of a convulsive nature that occur at the beginning of the withdrawal syndrome, with alcoholic delirium, sometimes at the peak of intoxication. If you do not abuse alcohol, seizures disappear in most cases.

Alcoholic paranoid and alcoholic delusions of jealousy

Alcohol paranoid can develop with withdrawal symptoms or peak binge drinking. It is characterized by the presence of delirium, with the content of ideas of persecution. The patient believes that they are trying to rob or kill him. In the world around him, he sees confirmation of his delirium, his actions become impulsive (he suddenly runs, turns to the police, attacks people). Men over 40 are prone to alcohol delirium of a jealous nature. Their delusional ideas are directed towards the allegedly unfaithful spouse. Has a gradual development, takes on a chronic form with periods of exacerbations.

Alcoholic encephalopathy

This type of alcoholic psychosis occurs against the background of alcoholism and is accompanied by gastritis or enteritis in a chronic form; it is observed in many people who drink and eat little. It develops in the spring months with a lack of vitamin, often occurs in an acute form. Has a gradual onset with a duration of up to three months. During this period, asthenia increases, weakness, exhaustion, and memory disorders appear. Further, appetite disappears, insomnia begins. Psychosis is manifested by professional delirium, delusional state.

After a few days, an apathetic stupor appears, turning into a coma. Neurological disorders are constantly present. Paralysis of the oculomotor muscles, fear of light, nystagmus - characterizes the highest phase of the disease. Autonomic symptoms are present: disturbances in the rhythm of the heart and respiration, fever, uncontrolled urination, pallor of the skin. Korsakov's psychosis is classified as a chronic form of alcoholic encephalopathy.

Treatment of alcoholic psychosis

All types of alcoholic psychoses require medical treatment. First of all, with a visual examination and examination of a neurological nature, the doctor excludes the presence of traumatic psychosis. Further, motor excitement is eliminated and enterosorption is carried out. Before infusion treatment, temporary relief of alcoholic psychosis is used. The patient is given to drink a mixture of phenobarbital and alcohol with the addition of water, prepared in certain proportions. Then it is important to fix the patient mechanically. Infusion therapy is combined with psychotropic drugs, vitamins and others.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".