Abstract
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a medical emergency, rare in the general population, but very common among alcoholic individuals, which can lead to severe complications when unrecognized or late treated. It represents a clinical condition which can evolve in few hours or days following an abrupt cessation or reduction of alcohol intake and is characterized by hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system resulting in the development of typical symptoms. According to DSM-5 criteria, the alcohol withdrawal syndrome is defined as such: if patients present at least two of typical signs and symptoms. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, revised version (CIWA-Ar), is the tool for assessing the severity of AWS. The support to patient with AWS includes pharmacological intervention as well as general support, restoration of biochemical imbalances and specific therapy. Regarding the pharmacological treatment, benzodiazepines represent the gold standard, in particular long-acting benzodiazepines, administered with a gradual reduction up to cessation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 118-122 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Rivista di Psichiatria |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 19 2018 |
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Keywords
- Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium/diagnosis
- Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures/drug therapy
- Alcoholism/blood
- Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use
- Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects
- Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology
- Benzodiazepines/administration & dosage
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Counseling
- Delayed Diagnosis
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Emergencies
- Ethanol/adverse effects
- Humans
- Kindling, Neurologic
- Palliative Care
- Severity of Illness Index
- Symptom Assessment
- Thiamine/therapeutic use
Cite this
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome : diagnostic and therapeutic methods. / Interdisciplinary Study Group CRARL - SITAC - SIPaD - SITD - SIPDip ; Laviola, Giovanni; Macri, Simone; Mancinelli, Rosanna.
In: Rivista di Psichiatria, Vol. 53, No. 3, 19.06.2018, p. 118-122.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
T2 - diagnostic and therapeutic methods
AU - Interdisciplinary Study Group CRARL - SITAC - SIPaD - SITD - SIPDip
AU - Attilia, Fabio
AU - Perciballi, Roberta
AU - Rotondo, Claudia
AU - Capriglione, Ida
AU - Iannuzzi, Silvia
AU - Attilia, Maria Luisa
AU - Coriale, Giovanna
AU - Vitali, Mario
AU - Cereatti, Federica
AU - Fiore, Marco
AU - Ceccanti, Mauro
AU - Laviola, Giovanni
AU - Macri, Simone
AU - Mancinelli, Rosanna
PY - 2018/6/19
Y1 - 2018/6/19
N2 - Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a medical emergency, rare in the general population, but very common among alcoholic individuals, which can lead to severe complications when unrecognized or late treated. It represents a clinical condition which can evolve in few hours or days following an abrupt cessation or reduction of alcohol intake and is characterized by hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system resulting in the development of typical symptoms. According to DSM-5 criteria, the alcohol withdrawal syndrome is defined as such: if patients present at least two of typical signs and symptoms. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, revised version (CIWA-Ar), is the tool for assessing the severity of AWS. The support to patient with AWS includes pharmacological intervention as well as general support, restoration of biochemical imbalances and specific therapy. Regarding the pharmacological treatment, benzodiazepines represent the gold standard, in particular long-acting benzodiazepines, administered with a gradual reduction up to cessation.
AB - Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a medical emergency, rare in the general population, but very common among alcoholic individuals, which can lead to severe complications when unrecognized or late treated. It represents a clinical condition which can evolve in few hours or days following an abrupt cessation or reduction of alcohol intake and is characterized by hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system resulting in the development of typical symptoms. According to DSM-5 criteria, the alcohol withdrawal syndrome is defined as such: if patients present at least two of typical signs and symptoms. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale, revised version (CIWA-Ar), is the tool for assessing the severity of AWS. The support to patient with AWS includes pharmacological intervention as well as general support, restoration of biochemical imbalances and specific therapy. Regarding the pharmacological treatment, benzodiazepines represent the gold standard, in particular long-acting benzodiazepines, administered with a gradual reduction up to cessation.
KW - Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium/diagnosis
KW - Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures/drug therapy
KW - Alcoholism/blood
KW - Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use
KW - Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects
KW - Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology
KW - Benzodiazepines/administration & dosage
KW - Combined Modality Therapy
KW - Counseling
KW - Delayed Diagnosis
KW - Drug Therapy, Combination
KW - Emergencies
KW - Ethanol/adverse effects
KW - Humans
KW - Kindling, Neurologic
KW - Palliative Care
KW - Severity of Illness Index
KW - Symptom Assessment
KW - Thiamine/therapeutic use
U2 - 10.1708/2925.29413
DO - 10.1708/2925.29413
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29912213
VL - 53
SP - 118
EP - 122
JO - Rivista di Psichiatria
JF - Rivista di Psichiatria
SN - 0035-6484
IS - 3
ER -