title: Characteristics of men with alcoholic hallucinosis.
abstract: The goal of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of primary alcoholics with alcoholic hallucinosis. Six hundred and forty-three primary alcoholic men were recruited from a 28-day Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program at the San Diego VA Medical Center. Subjects only experiencing perceptual abnormalities during alcohol withdrawal, drug-related hallucinosis, as well as those having abnormal sensations that did not meet criteria for hallucinations were excluded from the present study. The remaining 532 subjects were divided into Group 1 (n = 48), which consisted of subjects with a DSM-IIIR and ICD-10 diagnosis of alcoholic hallucinosis, and Group 2 (n = 484) which consisted of those without any history of hallucinations. A comparison of the two groups revealed that Group 1 men were younger at the onset of alcohol problems, consumed more alcohol per occasion, developed more alcohol-related life problems, and had higher rates of drug experimentation as well as more different types of drugs used. This study suggests that primary alcoholics who consume more drugs and/or alcohol might be at an increased risk for developing alcoholic hallucinosis.
authors.affiliation: San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center, California 92161.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tsuang
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schuckit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol