Block 33 Week 7 Flashcards
what is binge drinking?
- Heavy dinking in a single session
- Twice the daily limit
- Above 4-6 units for women
- Above 6-8 units for men
what is harmful use of alcohol?
- pattern of psychoactive substance use that damages health
- harmful patterns of use often criticized by others
Harmful use should not be diagnosed if dependence syndrome, a psychotic disorder or another specific form of drug- or alcohol-related disorder is present.
what is dependence syndrome?
- A cluster of physiological, behavioural, and cognitive phenomena in which the use of a substance or a class of substances takes on a much higher priority for a given individual than other behaviours that once had greater value.
central characteristic of dependence syndrome?
desire (often strong, sometimes overpowering) to take alcohol.
diagnostic guidelines for dependence syndrome?
- 3 of more of the following have been present together at some time during the past year:
- (a) a strong desire or sense of compulsion to take the substance;
- (b) difficulties in controlling substance-taking behaviour in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use;
- (c) a physiological withdrawal state when substance use has ceased or been reduced, as evidenced by: the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance; or use of the same substance with the intention of relieving or avoiding withdrawal symptoms;
- (d) evidence of tolerance, such that increased doses of the psychoactive substances are required in order to achieve effects originally produced by lower doses
- (e) progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of psychoactive substance use, increased amount of time necessary to obtain or take the substance or to recover from its effects
- (f) persisting with substance use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequence.
- (g) Narrowing of the personal repertoire of patterns of drinking e.g. a tendency to drink alcoholic drinks in the same way regardless of social constraints that determine appropriate drinking behaviour.
tolerance?
- either a need for markedly increased amounts of a substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect.
- Or marked diminished affect with continued use of same amount of a substance.
withdrawal?
- Characteristic withdrawal syndrome for substance used or closely related or same substance taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain or use the substance or to recover from its effects.
7 fold inc in risk of alcoholism in?
first degree relatives of alcoholics
P300?
- abnormalities in P300 event-related potential associated with familial alcoholism > P300 predicts alcohol abuse
FH in alcoholism?
- family history
- sons of alcoholics 4x more likely to be an alcoholic than sons of non-alcoholics regardless of drinking patterns of adoptive parents
receptor involved in alcoholism?
D2 dopamine receptor
variations in ? composition leads to?
- variations in allele compositions for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase may contribute to risk patterns of alcoholism among oriental populations
reinforcement of alcohols effects via?
- Alcohol’s reinforcing effects are modulated by dopamine, serotonin, and GABA systems
in alc dependence
dopamine
- alcohol stimulates DA release in nucleus accumbens
- increased DA may underlie ‘craving’
5HT?
*alcohol potentiates effects of serotonin at 5-HT3 receptors
*some reports of 5-HT agonists in reducing alcohol craving
psychodynamic theories of alcoholism?
- intoxication is a gain to the patient, with disinhibition allowing the expression of aggression
- maternal overprotection is described among some alcohol problems clinic attendees
- childhood sexual abuse is more commonly reported in women alcoholics than in the general population
behavioural theory of alcoholism?
- models include drinking becoming a conditioned response to a wide range of circumstances
- modelling from parents, relatives, peers, etc. is clearly demonstrated
- The euphoriant effect - important reinforcer
other behaviour factors linked to alcoholism?
- Stress and negative life events – bereavement; separation; impending court case
type 1 alcoholic?
more dependent, anxious, rigid, less aggressive, more guilty, with either the mother or father an alcoholic
type 2 alcoholic?
early onset, severe problems, socially detached, distractible, confident, and whose behaviour is linked to a similar pattern in the biological father - can be seen as alcoholism secondary to antisocial personality disorder
epidemiology of alcohol disorders?
- rise in females; rise in adolescents
- 35 % of homeless have alcohol disorders
?% of MCP abuse alcohol
4-6%
age of onset for alcoholism?
- age of onset in late teens or 20s for males
- onset later in females, who are more likely to:
- drink alone
- delay seeking help
- have co-morbid depression
- have a stronger genetic predisposition
- develop physical complications, especially cirrhosis
higher rates of alcoholism in:
- urban areas
- divorced/ separated
- those who manufacture, or sell alcohol
- commercial travellers, frequent overseas travellers
- entertainers, doctors, journalists
- North American, Afro-Caribbean, Irish
lower rates of alcoholism in:
- ‘middle’ social groups
- Jewish, Chinese
hepatic alcohol related consequences?
- may be due to toxic effects of acetaldehyde / damage to immune system by alcohol
- women are more susceptible than men
fatty liver?
*may be present in 90 % of drinkers
*reversible with abstinence
alcoholic hep?
*abstinence aids resolution, but cirrhosis may follow
cirrhosis?
*10 % of chronic alcoholics
*vulnerability may be due to HLA-B8 antigen, found in 25 % of population
HLA that has a protective effect on cirrhosis?
HLA-A28
hepatic carcinoma?
*15 % of patients with cirrhosis go on to develop hepato-cellular carcinoma
GI alcohol related consequences?
- Baretts Oesophagus
- MW tears
- oesophageal varices
- Peptic ulceration – 20 % of alcoholics; bleeding may be exacerbated by Vitamin K deficiency secondary to cirrhosis
- Pancreatitis – both acute and chronic
- DM
Haemtological alcohol related consequences?
- alcoholism is the commonest cause of macrocytosis
- Thrombocytopenia and anaemia
- Zieve’s syndrome is a rare form of alcoholic haemolysis
neurological consequences of alcoholism?
- delirium tremens
- Alcoholic Hallucinosis
- Trauma, alcohol withdrawal, brain damage
alcoholic hallucinosis?
- rare conditions in which auditory hallucinations occur alone in clear consciousness
- usually clears in a few days, but may be followed by secondary delusional misinterpretation
- up to 50 % go on to develop symptoms of schizophrenia
what is the most common complication of neurological complication of alcoholism?
- Epilepsy of late onset (> 25 yrs) is the most common neurological complication
peripheraly neuropathy from alcoholism?
most likely from b1 deficiency
optic atrophy?
- loss of visual acuity
- blindness associated with methanol poisoning, thiamine and B12 deficiency, and heavy tobacco smoking
CV comps of alcoholism?
- increase in blood pressure
- weakened contraction of myocardium, leading to heart failure
- cardiac arrhythmia
- cardiomyopathy
comps of alcohol use in pregnancy
- stillbirth
- neonatal mortality
- low birth weight
- later issues w distractibiltiy and attention
FAS?
- microcephaly, mental retardation, low birth weight, cleft palate, ptosis, scoliosis, abnormal dermatoglyphics, congenital heart disease, congenital renal disease
- may occur at alcohol intake of 4-5 units per day
social effects of alcohol - inc rates of?
- physical / sexual abuse of partner
- divorce
- child abuse
- later alcoholism in children
social effects of alcohol - emp?
- 2 ½ times as many days off work
- decreased productivity
- increased accidents at work
social effects of alc - accidents?
- 80 % of fatal car accidents involve alcohol
- 40 % of casualty trauma involves alcohol
psychiatric complications of alc?
- almost half of alcoholics meet criteria for another psychiatric disorder
- affective disorders - depressive symptoms, contemplation of suicide
- alcoholics have 7x the expected suicide rate
anxiolytic effects of alcohol?
- Anxiety - the anxiolytic effects of alcohol wear off as tolerance develops
schiz and alc?
- Schizophrenia - schizophrenic symptoms can occasionally be triggered by heavy drinking, which remit when the patient is detoxed
morbid jealousy?
may be associated with an alcoholic paranoid state
Delirium tremens?
- risk develops when intake is 12 units per day
Triad of DT?
- clouding of consciousness and confusion, patient is disorientated
- vivid hallucinations - usually visual (rats, insects, Lilliputian) or tactile
- marked tremor
Marchiafava-Bignami disease presents w?
Ataxia, dysarthria, epilepsy, severe impairment of consciousness due to extensive demyelination of the corpus callosum, the optic tracts, and the cerebellar peduncles
Central Pontine Myelinolysis consist of?
- consists of demyelination involving the pyramidal tracts within the pons
Central Pontine Myelinolysis presents w rapid onset of?
- pseudobulbar palsy, quadriplegia, loss of pain sensation in the limbs and trunk, vomiting, confusion, and coma are common
alc dementia
- mild cognitive deficits frequent, but reversible with abstinence
- dementia rarely occurs before 40 years
- associated with CT and MRI evidence of ‘atrophy’
alcohols impact on actions?
- causes us to act on impulse
- sexually acting out
- displaying behaviours and saying things they wouldn’t normally say
- expressions of anger, happiness, violence
alc impact on semi volunatry actions?
- dry mouth - stops body salivating
- Red eyes; stop blinking and then eyes start to dry out
alcohols impact on involuntary systems?
- Alcohol sedates this level so can cause nausea/ vomiting as food fails to be properly digested.
- Libido affected & ability to perform the sexual act is lost.
- The body can stop involuntary system actions in order to maintain vital functions-too much alcohol
Alc and vital systems?
- In event of surge in alcohol the body creates a period of unconsciousness/ coma to protect vital functions.
- Inexperienced drinkers pass out.
- Acute alcohol poisoning is where the vitals start to shut down and can result in death.
assessment of alcohol/ drug misuse?
- longitudinal and cross sectional history
- Basic Investigations : Blood test, Urine drug test
- Diagnosis: Evidence of dependence
- Complications. (Physical, Mental, social)
- RISK
blood tests for alc?
GGT, MCV, ALT
questionnaires for alc?
CAGE and AUDIT-C
CAGE?
score >2
AUDIT-C?
- AUDIT-C: score of 5+ indicates higher risk drinking
- overall total score of 5+ is AUDIT-C positive
Physical withdrawal symptoms?
- hand tremors (‘the shakes’)
- sweating
- nausea
- visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not actually real)
- seizures (fits) in the most serious cases
Psychological alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- depression
- anxiety
- irritability
- restlessness
- insomnia(difficulty sleeping)
Longitudinal and cross-sectional history ?
- Age of onset.
- Type of substance/s
- Progression of Substance/s use.
- Possible precipitating and perpetuating factors.
- Current pattern of use
1 unit = ? of pure alc
10ml
most sensitive screening tool for alc?
GGT
Tx of det
- benzos
- fixed dose schedule best - acamprostate can be added
acamprostate?
- antagonises glutamate function
- Repeated ethanol withdrawal leads to greater levels of glutamate and increased mortality but acamprosate blocks this.
preventing alc related complications?
- thiamine replacement
- Must assess for signs of Wernicke’s encephalopathy
naltrexone?
- opiod antagonist
- not good for abstinence it seems to prevent people who relapse from going back to a full blown dependence
relapse preventing therapies?
- naltrexone
- acamprostate
acamprostate?
- increases cumulative abstinence
- reduces endogenous excitatory NTs and enhancing GABA transmission
what is the benefit of acamprosate?
- Few contraindications – can “safely” drink
busipirone?
1.is a 5-HT1A agonist
2.can improve outcome in anxious alcoholics
what does disulfiram work?
- Works by preventing the breakdown of acetaldehyde to acetate so if alcohol is drunk will lead to facial flushing, headaches, palpitations, nausea, vomiting headache, increased temp, increased pulse, decreased BP
what else does disulfiram do?
- Increases dopamine in the nucleus accumbens by reducing conversion to noradrenaline by dopamine B hydroxylase
what can disulfiram precipitate?
- Can precipitate anxiety, mania, psychosis and depression
side effects of disulfiram?
- Patients must have capacity and many contraindications and cautions (eg PD, suicidal risk, cardiovascular….).
- Rarely can cause fulminant hepatitis
NICE recommends disulfiram only after?
a trial of naltrexone or acamprosate
what is MI?
A directive, patient-centred counselling style that aims to help patients explore and resolve their ambivalence about behaviour change.
4 principles of MI?
- empathy
- discrepency
- address resistance
- support self efficacy
MI - empathy?
- Express empathy by using reflective listening to convey understanding of the patient’s point of view and underlying drives