Alcoholism can be the beginning of sad consequences. Terrible addiction turns a person into an antisocial plant incapable of life. It is very important to see the problem in time and deal with it. What you need to know about this pathology in order to avoid many problems is discussed in this article.
Occurrence of the diagnosis
In 1949, alcoholic delirium was first diagnosed as a form of psychosis in an independent form. During periods of prolonged alcohol consumption, people may experience acute delirium, illusions, a state of hostility, aggression and groundless suspicion of the actions of others, which is recorded in the case histories. The psychiatry of alcoholic paranoid began with research into this addiction. Now this condition is determined by many factors and varieties.
Explanation of term
Alcoholic paranoid is a type of mental disorder characterized by a severe condition, false ideas, delusions and beliefs, as well as persecution mania against the background of long-term usealcohol.
Men with this disease tend to dramatize everyday events, which is accompanied by strange reasoning. This can be expressed in zealous behavior, a misinterpretation of one's feelings, a struggle with non-existent enemies, an inadequate assessment of the environment, a dreary mood.
The female body becomes a victim of alcoholic paranoid at a faster pace. Mental problems on the basis of abuse can be formed in just 1.5-2 years. Mental disorders are expressed in the form of hallucinations, which are observed in women much more often than in men. In addition, ladies are prone to the rapid development of amnestic syndrome, in which severe intellectual impairment and memory loss are detected.
Sick, obsessed with alcoholic paranoid, often follow close people, neighbors, friends, just acquaintances. This is explained by the fact that in all extraneous actions they see a threat to their lives. Closed doors, kitchen appliances left in sight, facial expressions and gestures of others can be interpreted as a targeted threat. A person who drinks a liter of vodka a day is at risk. The first signs of pathology may occur when using 200-300 ml per day.
Stages of alcoholism
Alcohol abuse develops into mental disorders in the second stage of alcoholism. The development of disorders can occur at an accelerated rate, for example, in people who have had a head injury, infectious diseases, who have problems with the central nervous system or poorheredity.
1. At the initial stage of alcoholism, a person already needs treatment urgently. His behavior is characterized by some features:
- The dose of alcohol increases sharply.
- Lack of basic reflexes of the body trying to get rid of excess alcohol (eg vomiting).
- Problems with internal organs. Often they suffer from the liver and stomach. The first stage of hepatitis may occur. A person does not limit himself in taking alcohol to the point of losing consciousness.
- Showing signs of alcoholic paranoid, delusions of persecution and jealousy.
2. Inability to refuse any kind of alcoholic beverages. The patient is often in prolonged binges, suffers from acute psychosis for several years, feels extremely unsatisfactory. Special psychiatric hospitals can save from such a condition.
3. The period when the state develops into the stage of acute dependence. Prolonged intoxication occurs after 150 ml of vodka. Such people are not able to go even one day without alcohol. Degradation and an asocial way of life sets in.
Types of pathology
1. Acute alcoholic paranoid. With this disorder, a depressive state, sleep disturbance, delirium and auditory hallucinations are observed. The patient suffers from frequent panic attacks, he develops a feeling of persecution.
2. Alcoholic pseudoparalysis. Develops against the background of prolonged alcoholism,characterized by a clear mental disorder with such accompanying symptoms as memory impairment, inability to remember life events. The patient may stop recognizing others, control his behavior, lose acquired skills.
3. Abortive delirium. May occur for short periods. It is manifested by delusional fears, experiences that are not related to real events in life. Accompanied by amnesia and loss of orientation in time.
4. Protracted alcoholic psychosis lasts from 2 months to several years. The development of this disorder proceeds in the initial stage, as an acute psychosis, but then it acquires a stable anxiety state.
Forms of Manifestation
Alcoholic psychosis can manifest itself in several forms:
- Acute psychosis. Not characterized by a clear description of the symptoms. The causes of manifestation can be different, from hereditary predisposition to changes in external factors (change of residence, domestic stressful situations). In this state, people's consciousness and mental activity are disturbed, disorientation occurs in time or space, and hallucinations may occur.
- Alcoholic paranoid. In this state, a person feels increased anxiety and fear. It manifests itself in the stage of withdrawal syndrome with regular alcohol consumption. A person may be prone to violence, aggression, demonstrates antisocial behavior in society.
- Delirium of persecution. The patient is sure that everyone around is conspiring against him,feels life-threatening for no apparent reason.
- Delirium of self-accusation. The disorder is expressed in moral self-destruction. The patient begins to come up with ways of self-punishment and cause physical damage to his he alth.
- Delirium of jealousy. It develops with prolonged use of alcoholic beverages, it can manifest itself at the 2-3rd stage of alcoholism. Manifested by baseless suspicions of adultery.
- Delirium of poisoning. The patient may suspect others of trying to poison him.
Delirium of persecution
This form can occur against the background of chronic intoxication of the body. The patient believes that he is in mortal danger. Suspicions may arise in relation to any person who is in his field of vision. He can perceive gestures, facial expressions and any actions of strangers as a threat. Delusions of persecution in an alcoholic may also affect his close people, family members.
In his head, he scrolls through different ways of reprisal against himself (which his enemies want to inflict), which is a consequence of inappropriate behavior. For example, an alcoholic makes escape attempts or refuses food, suspecting that he might be poisoned. Often, under the influence of delusions of persecution, patients commit suicide. It is impossible to convince a person.
Symptoms:
- The patient regularly experiences panic attacks.
- Unreasonably feels threatened and harassed by others.
- Increased anxiety.
- An uncharacteristically human isolation arises.
- Inadequate behavior insociety.
Diagnosis of this form of psychosis is carried out by a psychiatrist using psychological and laboratory tests.
Treatment is carried out by medication with the use of neuroleptic drugs. At the time of treatment, it is better to hospitalize the patient, as he is a danger to others.
Alcoholic Jealousy
Delirium of jealousy - an alcoholic paranoid in which a person begins to make scandals about adultery.
Delirium of jealousy manifests itself gradually, in flashes. When the condition worsens, the alcoholic may pass off false memories as truth. In this case, the alcoholic poses a serious danger to loved ones.
Symptoms:
- Strong belief in adultery without reason.
- Paralogical thinking (disorder of mental activity, lack of semantic connection in logical reasoning).
- Unconsciousness of a disease state.
Treatment should not only save the patient from alcohol addiction, but also alleviate the emotional state. Conducting complex therapy helps to return the patient to a normal life. However, this disorder is not always curable. During therapy, tranquilizers, neuroleptics, hepatoprotectors, vitamin complexes and other pharmacological preparations are used.
How alcohol paranoid manifests
Main symptoms of alcoholic paranoid:
- Mood swings.
- Hallucinations or delusions.
- Inadequate speech and strange actions.
- Anti-social behavior.
Under the influence of strong alcohol intoxication, a person can be rude towards loved ones, arrange regular provocations to quarrels and fights, and show cruelty against the background of jealousy.
The most initial signs can be expressed in insomnia, regular headaches, bad mood, prolonged drinking. Then the person falls into a panic state.
At the next stages, the patient is overcome by fear of danger. He can claim that they want to kill him, and sincerely believes in this.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosing alcoholic paranoid is not always possible, as the patient may carefully hide his condition.
For an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to collect all the information about the behavior of such a person. The disorder can be identified by several main features:
1. Gross aggressive behavior.
2. Delusions based on fear or jealousy.
3. Hallucinations.
4. Antisocial behavior.
Treatment
The treatment of alcoholic paranoid is carried out only in a medical institution under the supervision of specialists. The patient is hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital for long-term treatment.
The first task of doctors is to eliminate the paranoid behavior of the patient, get rid of the false sense of fear and othersnegative feelings. In the treatment, tranquilizers, nootropics, antipsychotics and other drugs are prescribed. In some cases, antidepressants are needed. To relieve symptoms, a vitamin complex, psychotherapy, social assistance in alcoholism anonymous groups are used.
The patient returns to home only after the symptoms of the pathology have been eliminated.
