Alcohol Flashcards
What negative affects does alcohol have at high doses?
Stupor, unconsciousness, imparted attention, unsteadiness, flushing, nystagmus, mood instability, disinhibition, slurring
How don you define a harmful use of alcohol
Pattern of use causing damage to physical or mental health over a period of over month or repeatedly over a year
How do you define alcohol dependence
3 or more of the following for> 1 month or repeatedly over 12 months
Cravings/compulsions Difficulty controlling use Primacy Increased tolerance Physiological withdrawl on reduction Persistent despite harmful consequences
How do you define a withdrawl sate within alcohol
Group of symptoms of variable with variable clustering and severity on complete/relative withdrawl of a psychoactive substance after persistant use of that substance.
What occurs during an alcohol withdrawl site
Wellness, nausea, volimting, anxiety, seizures, confusion, agitation and death
What is delirium tremens?
Profound tremors, agitation, hallucinations, delusions sleeplessness and autonomic activity
Mortality is around 5%
Symptoms usually occur around 48/72 hours after ceasing alcohol
Death can occur due to cardiovascular collapse, infection, hyperthermia, seizures or self injury
What mental health disorders can alcohol cause
Anxiety Depression Sleep disturbance Morbid jealousy Alcoholic hallucinosis Deliberate self injury Suicidal thoughts/acts
How does alcohol affect sleep
Affects R.E.M. cycle by stopping thought consolidation also causes black outs
How does alcohol affect your physical health?
Yes
Depleted cerebral cortexs causing atrophy
What is wernicke’s encephalopathy
Confusion, ataxia, opthalmoplegia and nystagmus caused by decreased thiamine. This may lead to korsakoff’s psychosis
What is Korsakoff’s psychosis
Prominent impatient not recent and remote memory, preservation of immediate recall. No general cognitive impairment, retrograde and anterograde memory impaired learning and disorientation
What are a lot of alcoholic started on
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
How can alcohol affect relationships?
Aggression (verbal/physical)
MaritL difficulties
Poor parenting/neglect/ loss of parenting rights
Loss of friendships and social supports
What are the screening tools used for alcoholics?
Cut down?
Angry when someone has suggested you cut down
Guilty about drinking?
Eye opener, have you ever felt like you needed one
AUDIT (alcohol use disorders identification test)
FAST (4 questions)
PAT (Paddington alcohol test)
How do you manage people with alcohol problems
Practical advice, education, harm reduction
Holistic/bio-psycho-social approach
Support for patient and family Psychological help (CBT, motivational interviews) Social work input Skills training Community support (AA) Inpatient or residential treatment Medication
