alcoholism /al″kəhôliz′əm/ , the dependence on excessive amounts of alcohol, associated with a cumulative pattern of deviant behaviors. Alcoholism is a chronic illness with a slow, insidious onset, which may occur at any age. The cause is unknown, but genetic, cultural, and psychosocial factors are suspect, and families of individuals with alcoholism have a higher incidence of the disease. See also acute alcoholism, chronic alcoholism. ▪ OBSERVATIONS: The most frequent health consequences of alcoholism are central nervous system depression and cirrhosis. The severity of each may be greater in the absence of food intake. Alcoholic patients also may suffer from alcoholic gastritis, peripheral neuropathies, auditory hallucinations, and cardiac problems. Abrupt withdrawal of alcohol in addiction causes weakness, sweating, and hyperreflexia. The severe form of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens. ▪ INTERVENTIONS: Extreme caution should be used in administering drugs to alcoholic patients because of the possibility of additive central nervous system depression and toxicity caused by inability of the liver to metabolize the drugs. Treatment consists of psychotherapy (especially group therapy by organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous) or administration of drugs, such as disulfiram, that cause an aversion to alcohol.
