Substance Misuse Flashcards
What is the ICD categories for substance misuse?
- acute intoxication
- acute withdrawal
- alcohol dependence
- psychotic disorders
- amnesic disorder
- residual/late onset disorders
What is hazardous drinking?
Pattern of alcohol consumption that increases someones risk of harm. Physical, mental and social consequences.
Applies to anyone drinking >14 units/week.
What is the difference between hazardous and harmful drinking?
Hazardous - >14 units
Harmful >35 units
How do you calculate units?
Units = strength x volume/1000
What screening tools can be used in alcohol misuse?
CAGE
FAST
Audit and audit C
Describe the FAST screening
- How often have you had 6+(female) 8+ (male) units on a single occasion in the last year?
- Can’t remember the night before
- Failed to function properly due to alcohol
- Someone else is concerned about drinking
Scored by frequency Never =0 daily=4
>2 classes as hazardous
Describe CAGE screening
Have you tried to cut down?
Annoyed when someone else suggested it?
Guilty about drinking?
Eye opening (early morning drink)?
How does the audit score correlate to management?
8-19 = brief intervention 20+ = refer to a specialist
What must a brief intervention consist of?
Feedback - review problems Responsibility - empowerment Advice - factual Menu - options available Empathy Self-efficacy - optimism
Describe the term motivational interviewing
Patient-centred counselling explores ambivalence to seeking treatment, drinking cessation or both. Collaborative conversation, drinking cessation. Helps to achieve insight and desire to change.
Describe Wernicke’s and Korsakoff’s
Wernicke’s - ataxia, nystagmus, ophalmoplegia, acute confusion
Korsakoff - profound short term memory loss and confabulation
What is the criteria for diagnosis for dependence syndrome?
- Strong desire or sense of compulsion to take drug
- Difficulty controlling use of substance
- Physiological withdrawal
- Evidence of tolerance
- Neglect of other pleasures/preoccupation
- Persistence despite harmful consequences
3 or more present together at some point in the previous year
Why does alcohol withdrawal occur?
- Alcohol inhibits the action of NMDA glutamate ion channels and chronic use leads to up regulation
- Alcohol potentiates GABA A receptors and chronic use leads to down regulation
Overall a sudden stop causes unopposed excitation and excess glutamate which is neurotoxic
What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Restlessness, tremor, sweating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, insomnia, tachycardia, systolic hypertension, generalised seizures
What is the worst consequence of alcohol withdrawal?
Delirium tremens
How does delirium tremens present?
2 days of abstinence, often insidious with nighttime confusion
What are the symptoms of delirium tremens?
Confusion, disorientation, agitation, hypertension, fever, hallucinations, paranoid ideation
Where should people with delirium tremens be managed?
General medical ward
What is the medical management for alcohol withdrawal?
Benzodiazepines (cross tolerant with alcohol)
Vitamin supplement (pabrinex)
Thiamine - parenteral, increase in wernicke’s
Hydration, analgesia, antiemetic, treat infections
Describe the indications for inpatient detox
Severe dependence History of delirium tremens History of failed community detox Poor social support Cognitive impairment Psychiatric co-morbidity Poor physical health
What psychosocial interventions help to prevent relapse?
CBT, motivational enhancement, 12 steps (AA), self control training, family/couple therapy