Alcoholic Psychoses

Mental disorders of alcoholics are very dangerous conditions that can lead to dramatic consequences.

Mental disorders of alcoholics are very dangerous conditions that can lead to dramatic consequences.

Various mental states caused by excessive and long-term use of alcoholic beverages are called alcoholic psychoses. 

One or another alcoholic psychosis usually occurs in persons suffering from chronic alcoholism. With the constant influence of large doses of alcohol on organs and systems, metabolic processes fail, which primarily negatively affects the activity of the central nervous system. 

Alcoholic delirium (white fever)

Before the development of acute alcoholic psychosis, the patient's sleep is usually disturbed. Nightmares may occur, or a person may suffer from insomnia. In addition to sleep disturbances, a person periodically feels anxiety and fear. More serious symptoms appear the next day. The feeling of fear grows to such a degree that the patient is afraid to stay alone in the room or go outside. From time to time, a person is disturbed by some noises that are not really there. The patient begins to listen to something, make chaotic movements. In such cases, relatives and friends of the patient should immediately call an ambulance, as the person needs to be hospitalized. If no medical measures are taken, white fever develops after some time, when the patient sees various animals, devils and other objects. Auditory hallucinations can be added to visual hallucinations. The patient can hear the conversations of beings that he supposedly sees. As a rule, all these creatures are not friendly to the patient, they want to harm him and even kill him.

Doctor of Medical Sciences Urakov Ihor notes that one of the clear signs of white fever is tremor. - Mainly the eyelids, the tip of the tongue, and the fingers tremble. Due to a trembling voice, the patient's speech becomes slurred. Body temperature may rise, and in some cases reach 39-40 degrees. 

Alcoholic hallucinosis

Alcoholic hallucinosis is the second most common type of alcoholic psychosis (after white fever). During alcoholic hallucinosis, the patient is bothered only by auditory hallucinations. It all starts with a small noise, which soon changes to distinct human voices. At the same time, the patient will be in a clear state of consciousness and normally oriented in space. Soon the patient begins to respond to voices. It can be a dialogue with anyone, or the imaginary action takes place in the form of a meeting, where voices one after another accuse the patient and threaten him. Such a state is accompanied by sharp attacks of anxiety and fear. The patient tries to escape. It is not uncommon for a person in a state of alcoholic hallucination to drive far from his home, or even call the police for help. 

Treatment of alcoholic hallucinosis is reduced to prescribing neuroleptic drugs. With a strong hangover syndrome, detoxification therapy is necessary. Alcoholic delusional psychoses With an abstinence syndrome or in a drunken state, alcoholics may experience various types of delusional psychoses. One of these is alcoholic paranoid. It seems to the patient that he is being persecuted, and they definitely want to deal with him. In almost every encounter, an alcoholic sees a pursuer. At the same time, the patient looks closely at the facial expressions of the surrounding people, their gestures, tries to hear their conversation. Having seen someone as a potential enemy, the patient may take unpredictable actions, such as attacking a person, running away, jumping from a vehicle, jumping from a window, and even committing suicide. 

Another type of delusional psychosis is the alcoholic delusion of jealousy. Mostly, this condition develops in male alcoholics who are already over 40. It all starts with small suspicions in a state of strong intoxication or hangover. However, over time, the disease progresses, and the patient's behavior may threaten his wife. It can get to the point that a man begins to watch his wife, and family friends or neighbors become potential lovers.

"It is impossible to recover from alcoholism or other addiction instead of someone. What is possible is to increase the motivation for recovery." 

Life with such a person is very dangerous, because in such a state a person is prone to violent actions. Less often, alcoholic delirium of jealousy develops in women. Treatment of such delusional psychoses must be carried out in a hospital with the use of neuroleptic drugs and anti-alcohol therapy.