The search for a relationship between schizophrenia and alcoholism began in the XNUMXth century by the German psychiatrist Karl Gretter. He did his research by observing alcoholics with schizophrenia. He noted that practically everyone could be diagnosed with dementia praecox, which was expressed in hallucinations of various kinds. Karl put forward the theory that alcoholism and schizophrenia have a certain influence on each other. But to this day, there is controversy regarding this statement. So is there a relationship between these two ailments, or is it all just guesswork that has no confirmation?
Is there a relationship?
Scientists have been trying for many years to confirm or, on the contrary, refute the influence of alcohol on the manifestation of schizophrenia. Someone is completely convinced that alcoholics tolerate this disease more pronouncedly, and someone, in the course of their own observations, indicated that alcohol significantly reduces the severity of symptoms. Even there was such a thing as alcoholic schizophrenia.
What is alcoholic schizophrenia
We all know perfectly well that ethanol contained in alcohol can destroy the nerve cells of the brain and have a detrimental effect on almost all organs, if it is regularly ingested. This can subsequently lead to changes in many mental processes and the development of mental illness. And if two such disorders as alcoholism and schizophrenia simultaneously progress and depress the health of a person, then the treatment is much harder and more complicated.
Schizophrenia mostly manifests itself as a kind of dementia. Due to the split of human thinking, irreversible processes occur, which are expressed in an emotional form. In fact, it turns out that this disease has absolutely nothing to do with alcoholics, but many psychiatrists distinguish the occurrence of schizophrenia against the background of alcoholism as a chronic intoxication that provokes the disease. At the same time, in this form, treatment is much more difficult than with a true mental illness. Signs may not appear for the first five years at all. The very slow development of the disease and latent symptoms make it impossible to start treatment on time. It turns out that alcoholism has a serious impact on a person suffering from schizophrenia. It complicates the course of the disease and seriously burdens the treatment process. Also, do not forget that people suffering from schizophrenia and drinking alcohol have a higher risk of mortality.
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