Alcohol Diagnosis And Treatment

Question 1

Signs of higher alcohol consumption

Answer 1

Intoxication, 
Impaired attention and judgement, 
Unsteadiness, 
Flushing, 
Nystagmus, 
Mood instability, 
Disinhibition, 
Slurring,
Stupor, 
Unconsciousness

Question 2

Define harmful use of alcohol

Answer 2

Pattern of use causing damage to physical or mental health

Use >1 month or repeatedly over 12 months

Question 3

Define alcohol dependence

Answer 3

3 or more of the following for >1 month or repeatedly over 12 months:

• cravings,
• difficulty controlling use,
• primacy
• increased tolerance,
• physiological withdrawal on reduction,
• persistence despite harmful consequences

Question 4

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal state

Answer 4

Tremor, 
Weakness,
N/v,
Anxiety, 
Seizures,
Confusion, 
Agitation, 
Death,
Delirium tremens

Question 5

What is delirium tremens?

Answer 5

Symptom from alcohol withdrawal
Profound confusion, 
Tremor, 
Agitation, 
Hallucinations, 
Delusions, 
Sleeplessness, 
Autonomic over activity

Question 6

Ways you can die from alcohol withdrawal state?

Answer 6

Cardiovascular collapse, 
Infection, 
Hyperthermia, 
Seizures, 
Self injury

Question 7

How long after stopping alcohol does the alcohol withdrawal state happen?

Answer 7

48-72 hours after

Question 8

Ways alcohol can affect mental health?

Answer 8

Anxiety, 
Depression, 
Sleep disruption, 
Morbid jealousy, 
Alcoholic hallucinosis, 
Deliberate self-injury, 
Suicidal thoughts/ acts

Question 9

What is wernicke’s encephalopathy

Answer 9

neurological condition caused by alcohol and thiamine deficiency
Characterised by confusion, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus

Question 10

What is Korsakoff’s psychosis

Answer 10

Prominent impairment of recent and remote memory caused by thiamine deficiency 
Characterised by:
Loss of memory,
Impaired learning, 
Disorientation,
Nystagmus, 
Ataxia 

Caused by a thiamine deficiency

Question 11

Why do alcoholics have a thiamine deficiency

Answer 11

Poor intake and absorption,
There is poor hepatic function and
Increased requirement for alcohol metabolism

Question 12

Screening tools for assessing alcohol dependence

Answer 12

CAGE,
AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
FAST (4 questions)
PAT (Paddington Alcohol Test)

Question 13

What is the CAGE screening tool?

Answer 13

Have you tried to Cut down?
Have you felt Annoyed by people criticising your drinking?
Have you felt Guilty about drinking?
Have you felt the need to have an Eye-opener?

2 or more= likely alcohol problem

Question 14

Management for alcoholism?

Answer 14

Support for patient and family, 
Psychological help (CBT, group therapy),
Social work input, 
Skills training, 
Community support (AA, ADA),
Inpatient or resident treatment,
Medication

Question 15

Medication used in management of alcohol withdrawal

Answer 15

Benzodiazepines (most common chlordiazepoxide)

Question 16

Aversion medication used in alcoholism?

Answer 16

Disulfiram

Question 17

Anti-craving medication used in alcoholism?

Answer 17

Acamprosate,
Naltrexone,
Nalmefene,
Baclofen