Question

Discuss the consultation/referral that would need to take place for an alcohol dependent patient?

Answer 1

An alcohol dependent patient should consult with a psychiatrist and should get admitted in a deaddiction unit if the patient is willing to quit alcohol. assessment could be carried out with history collection and CAGE questionairre. Once it is clear that the client is ready to undergo a treatment, health teaching must be provided regarding the withdrawal symptoms. Treatment usually lasts for at least 21 days with administration of antianxiety agents such as chlordiazepoxide. this drug is used as long acting antianxiety agent to reduce withdrawal symptoms such as tremers, restlessness, agitation and anxiety. Another main treatment modality is the antabuse. The common drug in this category is disulfiram which is used on the basis of aversion therapy, a subcomponent of behavioural therapy. Patient must be educated in this situaton that a single unit of alcohol when on treatment with disulphiram may produce serious side effects that may endanger the life of the client. Group therapy is a psychosocial intervention that is commonly used in this situation as many alcoholics stay together in one treatment centre who share common problem.