According to information from Lang Son Provincial General Hospital, in the first quarter of 2024, the Psychiatry and Neurology Department of the hospital received and treated nearly 100 patients suffering from mental disorders due to alcohol abuse.
The patients were mostly men of working age residing in rural areas. One of them was patient HVT, 43 years old, from Van Lang district, Lang Son province. The patient was admitted to the hospital in a state of delirium, emotional disturbance, hallucinations, seizures, etc. After examination, doctors diagnosed the patient with a mental disorder due to alcohol abuse and prescribed treatment according to the Ministry of Health 's protocol.
Patients with mental disorders are being treated at Lang Son Provincial General Hospital. (Photo: Hospital provided)
The patient's family shared that the patient frequently drank alcohol, often drinking only without eating or sleeping, which led to seizures and delirium. Previously, the patient had been hospitalized twice for treatment, but after recovering, they resumed drinking. This is the third time the patient has been hospitalized for treatment due to mental disorders caused by alcohol abuse.
According to Dr. Trinh Thi Viet Ha, Deputy Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Lang Son Provincial General Hospital, compared to previous years, the rate of mental disorders caused by alcohol seeking treatment at the Department is trending upwards by 5% to 10% and is affecting younger age groups.
Recently, the department has been admitting 1-2 patients daily for treatment of alcohol-related mental disorders. Most patients are admitted in serious condition, with multiple co-morbidities such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, cardiovascular disease, and stomach problems.
In particular, many patients experience delirium tremens with symptoms such as: delirium, irritability, inability to control emotions, shouting, cursing, anxiety, panic, hallucinations, assault, self-harm, and harm to others…
This is the most serious and common complication in people who abuse alcohol. This manifestation is also known as "alcohol withdrawal state". The cause of delirium tremens is neurotoxicity and metabolic disorders due to alcohol.
The illness typically appears 12-48 hours after alcohol consumption is stopped, with prominent symptoms including delirious and neurological disturbances, and patients may experience epileptic-like seizures.
According to Dr. Viet Ha, alcohol-induced mental disorders are a consequence of long-term alcohol abuse, causing direct damage to the brain and internal organs, disrupting metabolism, and making the disease complex and difficult to treat. Doctors must closely monitor the patient's condition and symptoms to treat them with medication, while also providing emotional support and psychological assistance to the patient and their family throughout the treatment process.
Most patients respond well to hospital treatment. However, treating mental disorders and withdrawal symptoms in alcohol abusers is not as difficult as maintaining their condition and preventing relapse within the family and community.
" In reality, many patients relapse into alcohol use after treatment, and many frequently seek treatment for alcohol-related mental disorders. Therefore, patients themselves need willpower and determination to quit alcohol, while adhering to the treatment regimen and psychological therapy as guided by their doctor. Families and society need to persistently encourage patients to give up their drinking habits; they should not discriminate against or ostracize them, but rather help them reintegrate into the community, " Dr. Ha emphasized.
Based on this case, doctors advise that when a patient shows signs of alcohol-induced mental disorder, the family should immediately take them to a medical facility for proper treatment and should not attempt self-treatment at home.
Furthermore, every citizen needs to raise awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol on physical and mental health and quality of life. They should also maintain a healthy lifestyle, minimizing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and stimulants to avoid negative impacts on their health.
The video is currently trending:
How to choose sun protection clothing for summer
Source
Comment (0)