ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism as a Mental Disorder



Alcoholism as a Mental Disorder

Introduction

Alcoholism is a mental disease and a type of substance abuse characterized by addiction to alcohol, with mental and physical dependence on it. The negative effects can be expressed in terms of mental and physical disabilities, as well as violations of social relationships a person suffering from this disease. The emergence and development of alcoholism depends on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption, as well as individual factors and characteristics of the organism. Some people are at greater risk for alcoholism due to specific economic and social environment, emotional and / or psychological predisposition and hereditary reasons. However, so far it has not been revealed about the specific mechanisms for the implementation of addictive properties of alcohol.

Behavior, Characteristics and Effects

Pathogenic mechanisms of action of alcohol on the body are mediated by several types of action of ethanol on living tissue and, in particular, on the human body. The main pathogenetic link is the narcotic effect of alcohol for the activation of different neurotransmitter systems, especially the catecholamine system at the various levels of the central nervous system. These substances (catecholamines and endogenous opioids ) determine the various effects such as increased sensitivity to pain, the formation of emotional and behavioral reactions . Violation of these systems due to chronic alcohol consumption causes the development of alcohol dependence, withdrawal, and change of a critical attitude to alcohol.

The oxidation of alcohol in the body produces a poisonous substance called acetaldehyde, which causes the development of chronic intoxication. Alcoholism as pathology goes through several stages of development is characterized by a gradual increase in alcohol dependence, decreasing the possibility of self-control with respect to the use of alcoholic beverages, as well as the progressive development of various somatic disorders caused by chronic intoxication with alcohol. The most straightforward differentiation of alcoholism is based on the presence of clinical signs of mental and alcohol addiction, as well as frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed. There are the following groups of people:

Persons who do not drink alcohol

Persons who consume alcohol moderately

People who abuse alcohol (the development of alcohol dependence)

No signs of alcoholism

With the initial signs of alcoholism (loss of situational and dose monitoring, binges)

With severe symptoms of alcoholism (regular binges, loss of internal organs, mental disorders, alcoholism typical).

From the above classification, it can be seen that alcohol dependence develops from random episodes of drinking to development of severe alcoholism. In the development of alcoholism, there are three main stages:

Pathological condition arises from the impact of ethanol on the central nervous system. The overall effect of alcohol is characterized by depression of central nervous system (CNS), and emerging the initial stages of euphoria and excitement are signs of weakening of the central nervous system inhibitory mechanisms. There are three degrees of alcohol intoxication: mild, moderate and severe, characterized by progressive increase of mental and neurological symptoms caused by toxic and psychoactive effect of ...