Alcohol use disorders Flashcards
What are some of the effects of alcohol in low doses?
- Euphoria
- Reduced anxiety
- Relaxation
- Sociability
What is intoxication?
Intoxication is the pathological state produced by a drug, serum, alcohol or any toxic substance
What are some symptoms of alcohol intoxication?
- Impaired attention
- Impaired judgement
- Unsteadiness
- Flushing
- Nystagmus
- Mood instability
- Disinhibition
- Slurring
- Stupor
- Unconsciousness
What are the levels of substance use
- Non-user
- Low risk user
- Hazarous substance use
- Episode of harmful use
- Harmful substance use
- Substance dependance
What is harmful use?
Pattern of use causing damage to physical or mental health. Use >1 month or repeatedly over 12 months
What is dependance?
2 or more of the following for >3 months or repeatedly over 12 months:
- Impaired control over alcohol use
- Alcohol becomes an increasing priority in life
- Physiological features
- Tolerance
- Withdrawal
- Repeated use to prevent or alleviate withdrawal
What is withdrawal?
Group of symptoms of variable clustering and severity on complete/relative withdrawal of a psychoactive substance, after persistent use of that substance
What is the only withdrawal state that can cause death
Alcohol withdrawal
What is the major complication of alcohol withdrawal?
Delirium tremens
When does Delirium Tremens occur in alcohol withdrawal
48-72 hours after cessation
What are some symptoms of delirium tremens?
- Profound confusion
- Tremor
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Sleeplessness
- Autonomic over-activity
What is the mortality rate of delirium tremens?
5%
How does delirium tremens cause death?
- Cardiovascular collapse
- Infection
- Hyperthermia
- Seizures
- Self-injury
What are Roizen’s 4 categories of harm in alcohol misuse?
Lover - Relationship damage
Liver - Liver damage
Lifestyle - Lifestyle breakdown
Law - Criminality
What are some co-morbid psychiatric conditions that may occur in alcohol misuse?
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Morbid jealousy
- Alcohol hallucinosis
- Deliberate self-injury
- Suicidal thoughts or acts
What are some facial features of alcohol misuse?
- Puffy face
- Bloodshot eyes
- Dark circles under eyes
- Dry skin
- Rosacea
- Rhinophyma
What are some physical symptoms of alcohol misuse?
- Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome
- Chest infections
- Hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Muscle loss
- Cardiomegaly
- Hypertension
- Ulcers, gastritis and haematemesis
- Pancreatitis
What are the 7 types of cancer in which alcohol is indicated?
- Mouth and upper throat
- Larynx
- Oesophagus
- Breast
- Liver
- Bowel
How can alcohol increase risk of cancer?
This is because alcohol can damage cells, increase damage from tobacco, affect hormones linked to breast cancer and break down into cancer-causing chemicals
What are the 2 disease processes involved in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?
- Wernicke’s encephalopathy
- Korsakoff’s psychosis
What are some symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
- Confusion
- Ataxia
- Ophthalmoplegia
- Nystagmus
What are some symptoms of Korsakoff psychosis?
- Significant impairment of recent and remote memory
- Preservation of immediate recall
- Impaired learning and disorientation
- Nystagmus and ataxia
What causes Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome?
This is caused by thiamine (B1) deficiency as alcohol leads to poor intake and absorption of thiamine, poor hepatic function and increased requirement for alcohol metabolism
How can alcohol misuse cause relationship harm?
Alcohol can lead to intimate partner violence, both perpetration and victimisation
It can also cause poor parenting and neglect, possibly leading to loss of parenting rights
There may also be loss of friendships and social supports
