Thesis(DMed (Psychiatry))--
University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder (also known as alcohol hallucinosis) is a
complication of alcohol abuse that requires clinical differentiation from alcohol
withdrawal delirium and schizophrenia. Although extensively described, few
studies utilized standardized research instruments and brain-imaging has thus
far been limited to case reports. The aim of this study was to prospectively
compare four population groups (ie. patients with alcohol-induced psychotic
disorder, schizophrenia, uncomplicated alcohol dependence and a healthy
volunteer group) according to demographic, psychopathological and brainimaging
variables utilizing (i) rating scales and (ii) single photon emission
computed tomography (SPECT). The third component of the study was
designed to investigate the (iii) effect of anti-psychotic treatment on the
psychopathology and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) before and after six
weeks of treatment with haloperidol. Effort was made to ensure exclusion of
comorbid medical disorders, including substance abuse. The study provides
further supportive evidence that alcohol-induced psychotic disorder can be
distinguished from schizophrenia. Statistically significant differences in rCBF
were demonstrated between the alcohol-induced psychotic disorder and other
groups. Changes in frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, thalamic and
cerebellar rCBF showed statistically significant negative correlations with
post-treatment improvement on psychopathological variables and imply
dysfunction of these areas in alcohol-induced psychotic disorder. The study
was unable to distinguish between pharmacological effects and improvement
acccomplished by abstinence from alcohol. / Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3791 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Jordaan, Gerhard, Emsley, R. A. |
| Contributors | University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Psychiatry. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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