Alcoholic Hallucinosis: Symptoms, Characteristics, Causes And Treatment
The chronic consumption of certain addictive substances, or the suspension of said consumption, can cause different alterations or mental disorders These are organic disorders, which also appear due to organic diseases or the consumption of certain medications or drugs.
In this article we will learn about an organic disorder caused by the suspension of alcohol intake in alcoholic patients (caused by substance withdrawal syndrome). This is alcoholic hallucinosis We will learn what it consists of, its symptoms, characteristics (how it manifests, how long it lasts…), causes and treatment.
Alcoholic hallucinosis consists of an organic disorder that produces psychotic symptoms, and is caused by a sudden cessation or reduction of alcohol consumption in alcoholic patients who used to drink large amounts of alcohol, and for a long time. That is, it is a typical disorder of withdrawal syndrome in alcoholic people (although it can also appear due to alcohol poisoning).
This type of alteration is considered an acute alcohol-induced disorder, and is actually part of another more global disorder, the so-called uncomplicated (alcohol) withdrawal syndrome. This syndrome includes, in addition to alcoholic hallucinosis, other symptoms, such as: seizures, delirium, occupational delirium and an organic hallucinosis (different from the one we discuss in this article).
Symptoms
The typical symptoms of alcoholic hallucinosis are hallucinations, which are usually persistent, auditory and vivid in nature These generally appear within 48 hours following the last drink of alcohol that the patient has consumed.
The hallucinations of alcoholic hallucinosis are threatening in nature. They appear in the first moments of the alteration (remember: this type of disorder usually appears in the first 48 hours after stopping alcohol intake). These hallucinations are usually auditory, made up of basic or elementary sounds (that is, not very elaborate)
These sounds include buzzing, clicking, crackling, etc., and the patient relates them to himself. However, as alcoholic hallucinosis progresses, the sounds can become increasingly elaborate and complex, translating into threatening words or phrases, for example.
Visual hallucinations may also appear in alcoholic hallucinosis, although they are less frequent than auditory hallucinations.
But what is the content of the hallucinations of this disorder? It is usually vivid content that greatly worries the patient, causing high levels of anxiety and anguish.
2. Delusions
On the other hand, depending on the content of the hallucinations caused by alcoholic hallucinosis, The patient may develop delusional interpretations or delusions themselves, in order to “justify” or “understand” the presence or logic of the hallucinations
These delusions often translate into intense ideas of persecution, as well as ideas of influence. The patient may react to them by running away or attacking others, for example. This often means that the patient’s hospitalization is required to contain him and compensate him because he is in a psychotic break.
This is because the patient may try to harm himself (self-aggression) or others (hetero-aggression), or even attempt suicide, as a result of previous hallucinations and delusions, which he interprets and experiences as if they were real.
There are two other typical symptoms that accompany the hallucinations of alcoholic hallucinosis: It’s about anxiety and irritability Thus, the patient can appear irritable and irascible, upset by anything, and even manifest aggressive behavior easily.
Added to this is the aforementioned anguish, produced especially by threatening hallucinations and the uncertainty and restlessness that these generate.
Another characteristic of alcoholic hallucinosis is that there is no clouding of the patient’s consciousness; That is, it maintains the state of consciousness intact. Furthermore, there is no loss or decrease in his intellectual capacity either.
Characteristics
Regarding the general characteristics of alcoholic hallucinosis, This usually appears at approximately 40 years of age However, it can also appear earlier, at 20 or 30 years of age.
On the other hand, patients with alcoholic hallucinosis usually have a history of alcohol consumption of at least 10 years. That is, there is excessive prior consumption of the substance, of long duration.
Start
In relation to its onset, it is usually sudden (abrupt). The typical symptoms in the initial phase of an alcoholic hallucinosis are: irritability, anxiety and auditory hallucinations of a threatening nature.
Duration
Alcoholic hallucinosis usually lasts between days and weeks (acute forms of the disorder), depending on the amount of alcohol used to be ingested and other variables, as we will see in the section on its causes. When it lasts several months, we talk about forming subacute. This disorder can become chronic.
Causes
As we have seen, Alcoholic hallucinosis is caused by a cessation of alcohol intake That is, it is a substance-induced disorder, specifically alcohol (its reduction or cessation). This is a characteristic symptom of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Alcoholic hallucinosis can last for days or even several weeks, and although initially it is an acute disorder, it can become chronic; All of this depends on the usual dose that the alcoholic patient took, his previous history of addiction, personal and genetic characteristics, etc.
Treatment
Regarding the treatment of alcoholic hallucinosis, when it appears, hospitalization of the patient is recommended so that the patient can stabilize. It will also be important to treat the underlying addiction (alcoholism) through specific drugs that promote the patient’s detoxification, to prevent alcoholic hallucinosis from reappearing.
Although treatment is important, so is prevention in this disorder. Some preventive guidelines include drinking alcoholic beverages only in small doses and accompanied by food intake. Ideally, you should eat foods rich in protein, as these slow down the absorption of alcohol. This will help prevent alcohol from irritating the central nervous system so much and therefore your health.
On the other hand, remission of alcoholic hallucinosis occurs with long-term alcohol abstinence. If the underlying alcohol addiction that is causing this disorder is not properly treated, relapses (relapses) may occur.
In this sense, complications can occur, and it is known that if hallucinosis extends up to 6 months or more in time, it can end up leading to organic dementia, delirium tremens or even a paranoid-type schizophrenic disorder.
