Faculty Mentor
Kayleen Islam-Zwart
Presentation Type
Poster
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Psychology
Abstract
Alcohol is a depressant drug, inhibiting the function of the central nervous system (CNS) and neurons in the mind (Greenberg, 1953). This results in physiological effects that are typical of an inhibited CNS; slowing of the heartbeat and breathing, and decreasing blood pressure (Scorzelli & Chaudhry, 2009). However, this inhibition of both the CNS and the neural chemistry develops a tolerance, and in turn withdrawal symptoms (Polli et al., 2023). These withdrawal symptoms are the inverse of the inhibition caused by the depressant effects of alcohol (i.e., an overactive CNS, increased activity of neurons; Smith-Alnimer & Watford, 2004). In extreme cases, one can develop a condition called delirium tremens (DT) (Stringer et al., 2015). DT is a debilitating condition caused by a sudden cut in alcohol after consistent, intense drinking (Stringer et al., 2015). Because their CNS and neural chemistry has adapted to the intense drinking, this sudden decrease in alcohol consumption results in violent withdrawal symptoms (Smith-Alnimer & Watford, 2004). Sørensen et al. (2019) found a significant increase in the risk of cultivating DT if individuals had a daily alcohol intake of at least 20 alcoholic drinks. Additionally, beverage drinking spirits was found to be more impactful in development of DT contrary to mixed alcohol. Finally, males were more susceptible to the risk of developing DT. Further attention to the precipitating factors (e.g., age of starting consumption, comorbidity with other substance use, etc.) involved in development of DT is necessary and will be proposed.
Recommended Citation
Santos, Nicasio L., "Alcohol and the Resulting Consequences of Delirium Tremens" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 9.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/works_2024/works_2024/9
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Alcohol and the Resulting Consequences of Delirium Tremens
Alcohol is a depressant drug, inhibiting the function of the central nervous system (CNS) and neurons in the mind (Greenberg, 1953). This results in physiological effects that are typical of an inhibited CNS; slowing of the heartbeat and breathing, and decreasing blood pressure (Scorzelli & Chaudhry, 2009). However, this inhibition of both the CNS and the neural chemistry develops a tolerance, and in turn withdrawal symptoms (Polli et al., 2023). These withdrawal symptoms are the inverse of the inhibition caused by the depressant effects of alcohol (i.e., an overactive CNS, increased activity of neurons; Smith-Alnimer & Watford, 2004). In extreme cases, one can develop a condition called delirium tremens (DT) (Stringer et al., 2015). DT is a debilitating condition caused by a sudden cut in alcohol after consistent, intense drinking (Stringer et al., 2015). Because their CNS and neural chemistry has adapted to the intense drinking, this sudden decrease in alcohol consumption results in violent withdrawal symptoms (Smith-Alnimer & Watford, 2004). Sørensen et al. (2019) found a significant increase in the risk of cultivating DT if individuals had a daily alcohol intake of at least 20 alcoholic drinks. Additionally, beverage drinking spirits was found to be more impactful in development of DT contrary to mixed alcohol. Finally, males were more susceptible to the risk of developing DT. Further attention to the precipitating factors (e.g., age of starting consumption, comorbidity with other substance use, etc.) involved in development of DT is necessary and will be proposed.
