The Pathophysiology Of Alcohol Abuse And Addiction

Alcohol is consumed around the world for numerous reasons. Alcohol Use Disorder is a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress (APA, 2013). In this paper, I will discuss the pathophysiology of alcohol abuse and addiction as well as the effect on human behavior and the contribution to clinical psychology. Alcohol can affect the nervous system from the immediate experience which is linked to behavioral changes. Initial alcohol consumption can impair cognition and psychomotor performance (Mumenthaler, Taylor, O Hara, Yesavage, 1999) as well as decrease attention, alterations in memory, mood changes, and drowsiness (Valenzuela, 1997). Alcohol consumed by mouth is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine and is able to cross the blood brain barrier (Mumenthaler, Taylor, O Hara, Yesavage, 1999). These changes may be observed because alcohol affects brain function by altering its ability to properly c ontrol behavior. Alcohol can act as a depressant by increasing inhibitory neurotransmission, by decreasing excitatory neurotransmission, or through a combination of both (Valenzuela, 1997). Neurochemical effects can occur. Alcohol increases GABA activity (Suzdak, Schwartz, Skolnick, Paul, 1986). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is responsible for sending chemical messages through the brain and the nervous system. Therefore, as GABA activity increases, it may result in aShow MoreRelatedAlcoholism Outline809 Words   |  4 PagesAlcoholism. Outline: I.   Classification and terminology of Alcoholism A. Etymology II. History of Alcohol III. Signs and symptoms B.   Symptoms of long term alcohol misuse 1. Physical symptoms 2. Psychiatric symptoms 3.   Social effects C. Alcohol withdrawal IV. Causes of Alcoholism D. Genetic variation V. Pathophysiology VI. Diagnosis of Alcoholism E. Social barriers F. Screening G. Genetic predispositionRead MoreEssay about Alcoholism and The Human Body1957 Words   |  8 Pagesevery day. What is addiction and how does it affect the body? Although defined in many ways, it is believed by some that addiction is a disease of the brain that can cause a dependence upon or a continuing, compelling need to use a habit-forming substance despite harmful consequences and may also be characterized by the increasing need for more of the substance or activity in order to obtain the same effect. Many changes take place within a body that consumes high doses of alcohol which can sometimesRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcoholism On The United States Essay1195 Words   |  5 Pagessuffer from alcohol addiction was very heart breaking. I remember one story about this man losing his son to car accident. The only way he dealt with the pain of losing his son was to drink. He stated ever night he drunk him self-asleep. He was so adamant about telling his story because if it wasn’t for the hospital staff he would have lost his life. Alcoholism is an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency.Read MoreSubstance Use Disorder Within Mental Health Patients1297 Words   |  6 Pagesclinicians in psychiatry. The disorder generally is associated with an underlying mental health condition(s), however, there are multiple theories suggesting psychological to neurological and probably multifactorial etiological profile. Substance abuse and substance dependence which are the former terms that were used to define one with the disorder has been grouped into a set category of substance use disorder by the 2013 Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (APARead MoreBipolar Disorder : Bipolar And Depression Essay1490 Words   |  6 Pageschronic mood disorder that lasts more two years with combination of hypomania and dysthymia. (CAP,2015). Th is paper will go into, Bipolar I, Manic episodes, the pathophysiology, Sign and symptoms, treatments, comorbidity, nursing intervention and nursing and patient therapeutic relationship. Pathophysiology There is no known specific pathophysiology that is associated with Bipolar spectrum disorder, nonetheless, it’s thought that this disorder arises from many areas such as, genetic, physiological, environmentalRead MoreBipolar And Related Disorders : Symptoms And Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder1669 Words   |  7 Pagesof either mania or depression can induce psychotic episodes which can include delusions and/or hallucinations. Along with BD, many individuals experience one or more anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance abuse. BD studies report that up to seventy percent of current diagnosed BP patients were misdiagnosed and mistreated. There a couple thoughts behind the high rate of misdiagnoses. The likeliness of a patient seeking treatment when depression occursRead MoreBipolar Disorder : A Concise Review3296 Words   |  14 Pagespathways and signaling networks have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of disorder. Circadian system has been extensively studied and the results implicate significant contribution of the disrupted circadian rhythms in the underlying pathophysiology of BD. Future studies should be carried to elucidate the mechanisms involved in rhythmopathies, neurotrophic dysregulation, imbalance in neurotransmitters and how these networks act in synchrony leading to such a serious psychiatric conditionRead MoreThe following questions relates to the patient within the first 24 hours 1. Outline the causes,2500 Words   |  10 Pagesthe liver that interferes with its normal functions including alcoholism. Most people who drink large amounts of alcohol cause harm to the liver in some way (Heidelbaugh Bruderly, 2006). The cause of cirrhosis is not yet known, but the connection between cirrhosis and excessive alcohol ingestion is established (Jenkins Johnson, 2010). Common causes of cirrhosis include: alcohol abuse, hepatitis B infection, hepatitis C infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitisRead MoreCannabis Abuse And The Type Or Number Of Depressive Symptoms2144 Words   |  9 Pagestaking third place among drugs of concern in addiction treatment services (Degenhardt et al., 2008). There is a conflicting evidence for an association between cannabis abuse and the type or number of depressive symptoms. In the view of the self-medication hypothesis, subclinical depressive symptoms can cause social difficulties and psy chological distress that may be relieved by cannabis abuse (Schofield et al., 2006). An association between cannabis abuse and the presence of fewer or less severe depressiveRead MoreUnit 2 study guide8637 Words   |  35 Pages neuropathic pain- results from primary injury to the peripheral or central nervous system and is not the result of pain signaling from peripheral tissues or organs peripheral neuropathic pain- caused by peripheral nerve trauma, diabetic or alcohol abuse-induced neuropathy, carcinoma, nutritional deficiencies, and HIV. central neuropathic pain- caused by a lesion or dysfunction in the CNS hemiagnosia pain- form of central pain associated with stroke that produces paralysis and hypersensitivity/allodynia