Alcoholism can be the beginning of sad consequences. A terrible addiction turns a person into an antisocial, incapable plant. It is very important to see the problem in time and tackle its solution. What you need to know about this pathology to avoid many problems is discussed in this article.
Origin of the diagnosis
In 1949, alcoholic delirium was first diagnosed as a form of psychosis in an independent form. During periods of prolonged drinking, people can experience acute delirium, illusions, a state of hostility, aggression and baseless suspicion of the actions of others, which is recorded in medical histories. The psychiatry of alcoholic paranoid began with studies of this addiction. Now this condition is determined by many factors and varieties.
Explanation of the term
Alcoholic paranoid is a type of mental disorder characterized by a serious condition, false beliefs, delusions and beliefs, as well as persecution mania against the background of prolonged alcohol consumption.
Men with this disease tend to dramatize everyday events, which is accompanied by strange reasoning. This can be expressed in zealous behavior, misinterpretation of one’s feelings, struggle with non-existent enemies, inadequate assessment of the environment, depressing mood.
The female body becomes a victim of alcoholic paranoid at a faster pace. Mental problems due to abuse can form in just 1.5-2 years. Mental disorders are expressed in the form of hallucinations, which are observed more often in women than in men. In addition, ladies are prone to the rapid development of amnestic syndrome, in which gross violations of intellectual activity and memory loss are detected.
Patients obsessed with alcoholic paranoid often follow close people, neighbors, friends, just acquaintances. This is because in all extraneous actions they see a threat to their lives. Closed doors, left-over kitchen appliances, facial expressions and gestures of others can be interpreted as a targeted threat. A person who drinks a liter of vodka per day is at risk. The first signs of pathology can occur with 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 increased rate, for example, in people who have suffered a head injury, infectious diseases, problems with the central nervous system or poor heredity.
1. At the initial stage of alcoholism, a person already needs treatment urgently. Some features are characteristic of his behavior:
- The dose of alcohol increases dramatically.
- The lack of basic reflexes of the body trying to get rid of excess alcohol (e.g., vomiting).
- Problems with internal organs. Often their liver and stomach suffer. The first stage of hepatitis may occur. A person does not limit himself in taking alcohol to a loss of consciousness.
- Manifestation of signs of alcoholic paranoid delusions of persecution and jealousy.
2. Inability to refuse any type of alcoholic beverages. The patient is often in prolonged binges, suffers from acute psychoses for several years, and feels extremely unsatisfactory. Special psychiatric hospitals can save from this condition.
3. The period when the state develops into a stage of acute dependence. Prolonged intoxication occurs after 150 ml of vodka. Such people cannot even spend one day without alcohol. There is degradation and an antisocial lifestyle.
Types of pathology
1. Acute alcoholic paranoid. In this disorder, a depressed state, sleep disturbance, delirium and auditory hallucinations are observed. The patient suffers from frequent bouts of panic, he develops a sense of persecution.
2. Alcohol pseudo-paralysis. It develops against the background of protracted alcoholism, characterized by a clear mental disorder with such attendant symptoms as impaired memory, inability to remember life events. The patient may cease to recognize others, control his behavior, lose acquired skills.
3. Abortive delirium. May occur in short periods. It manifests itself as delusional fears, experiences that are not related to real events in life. It is accompanied by amnesia and a loss of orientation over time.
4. Prolonged alcoholic psychosis lasts from 2 months to several years. The development of this disorder proceeds in the initial stage, like acute psychosis, but then acquires a stable anxiety state.
Manifestation forms
Alcoholic psychosis can occur in several forms:
- Acute psychosis. Not characterized by a clear description of symptoms. The causes of the manifestation can be different, from a hereditary predisposition to changes in external factors (change of residence, everyday stressful situations). In this state, people have a disturbed consciousness and mental activity, disorientation occurs in time or space, hallucinations can occur.
- Alcoholic paranoid. In this state, a person feels heightened anxiety and fear. It manifests itself in the stage of withdrawal symptoms with regular use of alcohol. A person may be prone to violence, aggression, demonstrates asocial behavior in society.
- Delusions of persecution. The patient is sure that everyone around him is plotting against him, feels a threat to life for no apparent reason.
- Nonsense of self-incrimination. The disorder is expressed in moral self-destruction. The patient begins to invent ways of self-punishment and inflict physical damage on his health.
- The delirium of jealousy. It develops with prolonged use of alcoholic beverages, it can occur at the 2-3rd stage of alcoholism. It is shown by groundless suspicions of adultery.
- Delirium of poisoning. The patient may suspect others of trying to poison him.
Delusions 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 can 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. The delirium of persecution in an alcoholic can also affect his close people, family members.
In his head, he scrolls through various methods of reprisal against himself (which his enemies want to perpetrate), which is a consequence of inappropriate behavior. For example, an alcoholic makes an attempt to escape or refuses food, suspecting that he might be poisoned. Often, under the influence of delusions of persecution, patients commit suicide. It’s impossible to convince a person.
Symptoms
- The patient is regularly subjected to panic attacks.
- Feels baselessly threatened and aggressed by others.
- Increased anxiety.
- There is a non-human closeness.
- Inadequate social behavior.
Diagnosis of this form of psychosis is carried out by a psychiatrist using psychological and laboratory tests.
Treatment is carried out in a medication manner with the use of antipsychotic drugs. At the time of treatment, the patient is better hospitalized, as it poses a danger to others.
Alcoholic Jealousy
The delirium of jealousy is an alcoholic paranoid, in which a person begins to make scandals about adultery.
The delirium of jealousy manifests itself gradually, in flashes. When the condition worsens, an alcoholic may give out false memories as truth. In this case, the alcoholic poses a serious danger to loved ones.
Symptoms
- A firm belief in adultery without reason.
- Paralogic thinking (mental disorder, lack of semantic connection in logical reasoning).
- The unconsciousness of the disease state.
Treatment should not only save the patient from alcohol dependence, but also relieve the emotional state. Conducting complex therapy helps to return the patient to a normal life. However, this disorder cannot always be cured. During therapy, tranquilizers, antipsychotics, hepatoprotectors, vitamin complexes and other pharmacological drugs are used.
How does alcoholic paranoid manifest
The main symptoms of alcoholic paranoid:
- Sharp mood swings.
- Hallucinations or delusions.
- Inadequate speech and strange actions.
- Antisocial behavior.
Under the influence of strong intoxication, a person can be rude to relatives, arrange regular provocations to quarrels and fights, show cruelty against the background of jealousy.
The most initial signs can be expressed in insomnia, regular headaches, bad mood, prolonged binge. Next, the person falls into a panic state.
At the next stages of the patient, fear of danger overcomes. He can claim that they want to deal with him, and sincerely believes in it.
Diagnostic measures
It is not always possible to diagnose an alcoholic paranoid, since the patient can carefully hide his condition.
For 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 signs:
1. Rude aggressive behavior.
2. Delusions based on fear or jealousy.
3. Hallucinations.
4. Antisocial behavior.
Treatment
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 patient's paranoid behavior, to get rid of a false sense of fear and other negative feelings. During treatment, tranquilizers, nootropic drugs, antipsychotics and other drugs are prescribed. In some cases, antidepressants are needed. To relieve symptoms, a vitamin complex, psychotherapy, social assistance in groups of anonymous alcoholism are used.
The patient returns to home conditions only after eliminating the symptoms of pathology.