13 - Acute Psychiatry and Alcohol Misuse Flashcards
What are two screening tools for harmful alcohol use?
- CAGE
- AUDIT
How do you screen for alcohol misuse using CAGE and how do you interpret the results?
CAGE questions should not be preceded by any questions about alcohol intake
How do yu screen for alcohol misuse using AUDIT-C and how do you interpret the results?
What questions can you ask in an alcohol history?
Origin of the drinking problem
Ask the patient when they first noticed an increase in their alcohol intake and try to identify any factors that played a role in this
Current drinking pattern
“How often do you drink alcohol?”
“Do you drink every day?”
“Do you drink at a particular time of day?”
“How much do you drink on an average day?”
“Is there anything that makes you drink more or less in a day?”
“How much do you spend on alcohol each week?”
Drinking behaviours
- “Where do you drink?”
- “Who do you drink with?”
Previous attempts at abstinence
- “Have you ever tried to stop before?”
- “What happened when you tried?”
- “Did you have any support?”
- “Why do you think it was unsuccessful?”
What are the two different types of dependences on alcohol and how can you screen for them?
Biological dependence
- “If you stop drinking, do you…get the shakes/sweat a lot/feel sick/notice any physical changes?”
- “Do you have to drink more than you used to, to get the same effects?”
Psychological dependence
“Do you feel a compulsion/need to drink?”
“How important is drinking to you?”
“If you stop drinking, do you notice that you…feel down/angry/anxious?”
If you suspect someone is misusing alcohol what can you ask them about their day to day life?
- “Has alcohol impacted any of your personal relationships?”
- “Has alcohol had any impact on your job or ability to work?”
- “Do you currently drive?”
- “Have you ever driven whilst under the influence of alcohol?”
What are some alcohol related medical conditions?
What are another two dependencies that can co-exist with alcohol dependence that you should ask about?
- Smoking
- Gambling
What are the stages/complications of alcohol withdrawal once dependent?
6-12 hours: symptoms start e.g tremor, sweating, tachycardia, anxiety
36 hours: peak incidence of seizures
48-72 hours: peak incidence of delirium tremens. Coarse tremor, confusion, delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, fever, tachycardia
What medication should you give if you suspect someoen is undergoing alcohol withdrawal?
- Long acting benzodiazepine(e.g chlordiazepoxide) as a reducing dose regime
-Parenteral thiamine followed by oral thiamine to prevent Wernicke’s encephalopathy
If someone develops delirium tremens this is an emergency. How do you treat it? (characterised by agitation, confusion, paranoia, and visual and auditory hallucinations)
Oral Lorazepam
What is GMAWS?
Glasgow Modified Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (GMAWS)
- Tremor
- Sweating
- Hallucinations
- Orientation
- Agitation
What medications can be given to prevent relapse of alcohol dependence?
- Acamprosate
- Naltrexone
- Disulfiram
Check if need enzyme supplements due to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (e.g steatorrhoea)
What services can you refer to for alcohol misuse?
- Turning Point
- Alcoholics anonymous
What are the key steps for successful alcohol withdrawal?
- Benzo cover
- Psychological intervention
- Relapse prevention
- Support/support groups
What criteria needs to be met for assisted alcohol withdrawal?
Drink over 15 units of alcohol per day, and/or who score 20 or more on the AUDIT
What are the common types of posioning/overdose?
- Paracetamol
- Salicyclate
- Opioids
- Benzos
- TCAs
- Lithium
- Warfarin
- Heparin
- Methanol
- Organophosphates
- Digoxin
- Iron
- Lead
- Cyanide
How do you manage any overdoses/poisoning initially?
- Brief history of what taken, how much and when
- A to E
- Consult TOXBASE
- Consider gastric lavage if <1 hour
- Take mental health history and refer
What investigations should you consider in your A to E when someone has an overdose/poisoning?
- ABG
**- Bloods: **FBC, U+Es, LFTs, salicyclate and paracetamol levels, glucose, PT/APTT
- Urine toxicology
**- ECG ** for arrhythmias or long QT
What are two important observations to monitor in an overdose?
- GCS
- RR