Psychosomatic and psychopathological paradigms of alcoholic anorexia

Abstract

Introduction

Alcoholic anorexia (AA), being one of prevalent narcology diseases, up to now has not been studied in psychosomatics and psychopathology paradigm.

Aims and objectives

To identify multifactorial pathopsychological, psychopathological, nervous, alimentary, toxicological constituents of AA pathogenesis.

Method

Twenty-four patients with alcohol dependence (males aged 29–37) have been studied. Diagnosis was objectified by psychosomatic, pathopsychological complex international valid tests and rating, adequate for investigation design, laboratory, electrophysiology, biochemical, ultrasound and other methods.

Results

AA was accompanied with mental and physical post-intoxication exhaustion, asthenizing, tremor, dissomnia, depression, pre-delirium signs. Psychosomatic concept was proposed for reasonable identification of intranosological AA clinical forms in narcological clinical course. Anorectic dipsomaniac conditions are explained pathogenetically with psychosomatic mechanisms of deviant addictive craving behaviour as pathopsychological target and patient's intentional complete or partial refuse food consumption in favour of real in time more quick and brutal attainment of alcoholic drunkenness (Ebrietas Alcogolica). This anorexia fabula draws AA closer to Anorexia Nervosa and mostly reflects compulsive obsession with alcohol use. Pathopsychological, psychosomatic, neurogenous mechanisms of alcoholic anorexia of drinking bout early stages are transformed gradually to post-intoxication alimentary, nervous, psychic exhaustion. Meanwhile, АА is valid for alcohol withdrawal syndrome diagnosis and plays situation relapsing role in alcoholizing prolongation.

Conclusions

Alcoholic anorexia is starting to declare even at early stages of alcoholic addiction formation. It is more illustrative in periodically recurrent and exaggerating drinking bouts when dynamic intestinal obstruction risk is high. Findings obtained ground alcoholic anorexia attribution to urgent conditions with necessary integrated relieving therapy and secondary prevention.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.