What Is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis? Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment
People who drink alcohol in large amounts are at risk of experiencing various physical and psychological side effects that can affect their overall well-being. One rare but severe mental condition that can result from chronic alcohol misuse is alcohol-induced psychosis.
It’s a condition that can significantly affect a person’s day-to-day function. Alcohol psychosis requires immediate medical attention since it can escalate to life-threatening behaviour.
This article will talk about alcohol-induced psychosis, its symptoms, and how the disorder can be treated.
What Is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?
Alcohol-induced psychosis refers to symptoms like delusions and hallucinations that result from chronic alcohol dependency. Since alcohol is a mind-altering substance, frequently consuming it in large amounts can cause severe side effects that can last for weeks or even months.
When a person suffers from alcohol-induced psychosis, they may experience a distorted sense of reality. Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder may lead a person to hear things that are not there or believe in false ideas. These symptoms may vary in severity, depending on the context and other individual factors.
Does Alcohol Cause Psychosis?
While alcohol itself doesn’t cause psychosis, excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt the brain’s normal functioning and lead to psychosis. Alcohol is a substance that negatively impacts neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are responsible for mood regulation, and without them, it can be difficult to maintain emotional stability.
People with existing mental health disorders are also at a higher risk of psychosis. Alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of certain disorders and make it more difficult to manage them. It can also trigger psychotic episodes in those who are already vulnerable to them.
What Are the Types of Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?
Alcohol-induced psychosis may occur because of different reasons. The reason behind the psychosis is what distinguishes each type from one another.
Alcohol Withdrawal Psychosis
Alcohol withdrawal psychosis is a type of psychosis that occurs during alcohol withdrawal. When a person who engages in heavy alcohol use tries to stop drinking, they are at risk of different withdrawal symptoms. Among these, psychosis is a rare but serious complication.
The condition happens because neurochemical imbalances in the brain from alcohol use can make a person feel more depressed and trigger psychotic symptoms. This type of alcohol-related psychosis typically occurs 24 to 72 hours after a person stops heavy alcohol consumption.
One of the most severe manifestations of alcohol withdrawal psychosis is delirium tremens (DTs). Aside from psychosis, a person who experiences DTs may experience rapid heart rates and high blood pressure. DTs develop around 2 to 3 days after stopping alcohol use and may persist for up to a week.
Acute Alcohol Intoxication
For some people, they may experience psychosis due to excessive alcohol consumption in a short period. This happens because the rapid increase in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can result in psychological symptoms like disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions.
While the psychotic symptoms go away after alcohol is out of the system, it’s still a condition that requires immediate medical attention. During acute alcohol intoxication, a person is not thinking clearly and may do things that put themselves or others at risk.
Alcohol poisoning may also exacerbate psychotic symptoms in acute alcohol intoxication. It can make a person feel even more disoriented, with other symptoms including confusion, vomiting, and seizures. This is a condition that impairs judgment and coordination, so medical services are needed to prevent fatal outcomes.
Chronic Alcoholic Hallucinosis
Chronic alcoholic hallucinosis develops in people with long-term alcohol use disorder. This mental health condition causes persistent hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms that happen even if a person isn’t drinking.
This form of alcohol-induced psychosis occurs because alcohol has already severely damaged the brain’s neurotransmitter systems. Nutritional deficiencies and co-occurring mental health disorders may also increase the risk of chronic alcoholic hallucinosis.
When Do Psychotic Symptoms Appear After Drinking?
The timeline of symptoms will depend on the type of alcohol-induced psychosis that a person experiences. For example, a person who experiences acute alcohol intoxication will experience psychotic symptoms shortly after consuming large amounts of alcohol.
On the other hand, those with alcohol withdrawal psychosis will experience symptoms at the same time they experience other withdrawal symptoms. This means that psychotic symptoms may emerge 12 to 48 hours after they stop drinking.
Psychotic symptoms for those who experience chronic alcohol hallucinosis will gradually develop over time. They may not be there when a person first stops drinking, but the symptoms may appear and intensify once long-term damage has already been caused by alcohol abuse.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?
A person who experiences alcohol-induced psychosis will have different symptoms. Early recognition of these symptoms is important because it helps prevent harm and other life-threatening complications.
Some symptoms of alcohol-induced psychosis include:
- Hallucinations: Hallucinations may be auditory, visual, or tactile. Depending on the type of hallucination, a person may hear voices that aren’t present, see objects that don’t exist, and feel sensations without a physical cause.
- Delusion: Delusions are characterised by paranoia and other false beliefs. People going through psychosis may feel like people are against them or hold strong, irrational beliefs that are resistant to change.
- Disorganised Thinking: When a person goes through psychosis, they will have extreme difficulty focusing or maintaining coherent cause. Maintaining a conversation with them will be all over the place since they tend to rapidly shift between unrelated topics.
- Severe Mood Disturbances: Those who experience alcohol-induced psychosis are going through extreme mood changes. This will manifest as intense agitation, extreme anxiety, or even periods of intense euphoria. It will seem like there is no way for them to control their emotions.
- Physical Symptoms: People experiencing alcohol-induced psychosis may also show physical symptoms, especially if the psychosis is associated with withdrawal. It can be accompanied by a rapid heart rate, shaking, tremors, sweating, and high blood pressure.
The severity of these symptoms will depend on various factors, such as the person’s drinking history and overall health. For example, a person may have persistent hallucinations if they are also experiencing mental health conditions and are still actively drinking.
How Is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis Diagnosed?
An alcohol-induced psychosis is diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation by healthcare professionals. It’s a process that involves examining a person’s alcohol use and the timeline of their symptoms.
Usually, the first step in diagnosing this disorder is an assessment of the person’s habits surrounding alcohol. This can be done through an interview with the patient, where the healthcare professional will ask about the patient’s frequency and duration of alcohol use. People close to the patient, such as their loved ones, may also be interviewed to get an additional perspective regarding the patient’s drinking habits.
A psychiatric evaluation and physical examination will then follow. These will help identify other symptoms and rule out any other medical conditions that may cause psychosis. For example, a patient may be evaluated for underlying medical conditions like brain tumours or infections. Since these conditions may also induce psychosis, it’s important to rule them out first before proceeding with treatment for alcohol-induced psychotic disorder.
Laboratory tests will also be used to assess alcohol-related effects. These tests will detect blood alcohol levels and evaluate damage caused by alcohol. They may also help identify vitamin deficiencies that can contribute to cognitive impairments.
How to Prevent Alcohol-Induced Psychosis
It can be difficult to prevent alcohol-induced psychosis once the damage has been done by alcohol. As such, it’s important to address alcohol consumption habits so that individuals can maintain good overall mental health.
Moderation is key when trying to prevent psychosis and other negative side effects from alcohol. Following the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption can help with reducing the risk of developing alcohol-related problems.
For people with alcohol dependency or addiction, moderate drinking becomes trickier since they’re unable to control their drinking. Because of this, they have to make an extra effort to stay away from alcohol at all costs.
People who struggle with alcohol misuse can stay away from alcohol by avoiding environments that trigger them to drink. Certain people or places can encourage them to drink, and it’s best to avoid these triggers so that they don’t fall back into old habits. Additionally, building a routine that includes activities that don’t include substance abuse can reduce the idle time that may be used for drinking.
If a person is struggling with alcohol dependency, it’s important to seek professional help right away. A professional can help address the problem before it progresses. They can equip those with alcohol dependency issues with the right strategies and techniques to overcome their addiction and live a sober life.
Treatment for Alcohol-Induced Psychosis
Alcohol-induced psychosis requires medical attention and treatment. Below are some treatment options for this condition, as well as alcohol addiction in general.
Medical Detoxification
Medical detoxification is the first step of alcohol addiction treatment. During this process, a person will be medically supervised as they go through withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and life-threatening. They should never be attempted alone, and the presence of a medical professional can ensure safety and comfort.
When it comes to alcohol-induced psychosis, a medical professional will help manage the symptoms of the psychosis. They can prescribe medications that will help with co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or schizophrenia.
Medications
Medications also play a part in managing the symptoms of alcohol-induced psychosis. Since the disorder can result from both addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, healthcare professionals can prescribe medications to manage both conditions.
For alcohol addiction, it’s possible to prescribe naltrexone and disulfiram. Naltrexone blocks the brain’s pleasure receptors and reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol. Disulfiram, on the other hand, makes drinking alcohol very unpleasant by causing side effects like nausea and vomiting.
While medications are effective, they are usually not the first line of treatment. They help manage symptoms, but it’s advisable not to use them as the permanent solution to addiction. These medications are also typically prescribed when a person has made a serious commitment to staying sober.
Therapy
Therapy is also important for those struggling with alcohol-induced psychosis because it helps address underlying emotional and psychological issues. For many, the psychosis is a result of unresolved trauma or mental health conditions. With the help of a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, clients can point out these underlying issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms to overcome them.
Additionally, therapy is commonly used in addiction treatment. Treatment centres may incorporate therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) so that clients can learn more about what contributes to their symptoms and eventually overcome addiction.
Long-Term Recovery Plans
Long-term recovery plans offer a structured approach to help clients manage the symptoms of alcohol psychosis and addiction. A common example of a long-term recovery plan is rehab. During rehab, clients will go through a structured treatment approach wherein they receive a mix of therapies and modalities to address their addiction and other co-occurring disorders.
Rehab can be inpatient or outpatient, depending on the client’s needs. In inpatient rehab, clients will receive a more structured type of treatment with 24/7 medical assistance. On the other hand, outpatient rehab offers a more flexible approach to treatment. Clients who go through outpatient rehab may receive treatment while still attending to their other responsibilities.
Get Help with Ending Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that can result in different side effects, such as psychosis. The best way to manage the symptoms of addiction is through professional treatment.
At Orchid, we offer comprehensive and effective treatment to help people overcome alcohol addiction. Our treatment options provide a thorough approach to recovery. The combination of evidence-based therapies, medical support, and personalised care plans can help guide you to a substance-free life.
To know more about our treatment options, contact Orchid today.
