Alcohol-related psychosis is a form of secondary neurosis that are marked by severe illusions that can occur even when the person has not consumed alcohol but occur during alcohol related conditions that include withdrawal symptoms and hangover. Alcohol is extremely toxic for the brain and if the person is put through repeated exposure, it can affect the quality of life that the person is leading and in some cases may prove to be fatal. Medically, this condition is referred to as alcohol-related psychosis, a condition that suggests chronic alcoholism leading to various medical disorders, having a strong link to neurology and psychology.

However, this condition can be easily reversed as people who are victims of alcohol-related psychosis can come back to their normal, healthy state after a period of quitting alcohol. However, the condition can return, the moment the person gets back to drinking. There are many clinicians who tend to find it difficult to distinguish between schizophrenia and alcohol related psychosis as they both tend to present similar clinical symptoms. However, the best way to find out is to put the patients on abstinence. In case of schizophrenia, the person may not revert back to normal condition, even after being off alcohol for a long time. Most doctors also experience diagnostic confusion with bipolar disorder as the presenting symptoms can be similar, again.

Clinicians should look for the following features to distinguish between alcohol-induced psychosis and schizophrenia :

• Most people with alcohol-induced psychosis have lower level of education, the subsequent emergence of psychosis
• The level of depressive symptoms and anxiety are high
• They may presents with less pessimistic and incompetent
• a better knowledge and wisdom
• decreased impairment of brain functions

Idiosyncratic alcohol intoxication is a rare medical issue that is caused due to decreased intake of alcohol, leading to states such as poisoning. Some of the most marked symptosm of idiosyncratic alcohol intoxication are:

• Aggression
• Disorientation
• Weak consciousness
• Sleepiness, despite oversleeping
• Hallucinations that last for a short while
• Delusion

Most of these symptoms tend to occur rapidly and last from a few minutes to hours and in most cases, they are followed by amnesia. People who are above 50 or suffer from impaired impulse control are more prone to this condition.

The effect of chronic alcoholism is usually studied but alcoholic psychosis is yet to achieve its due as a subject that needs to be well researched. In most cases, this research is needed to understand the characteristics, symptoms, frequency of the condition and its treatment.

Alcohol-related psychosis more likely is related to catecholamine neurotransmitter in the paleomammalian brain and possibly others.This neurotransmitter is also known as dopamine. There is increased production of dopamine when there is access intake of alcohol. This in turn can affect alcohol withdrawal and decrease the release of dopamine neurons.

The relationship between alcohol induced psychosis, intoxication and withdrawal symptoms are unclear. Researchers believe that there is a relationship between alcohol neurotoxicity resulting in various forms of pathology that range from genetic, physiological and biochemical reaction.

Alcohol intoxications have distinct features that can be distinguished even by a layman. Some of them are:

• Uninhibited- most people who are otherwise reserved and shy, suddenly become uninhibited and start saying and doing things that they would not do.
• Most of them go through phases of sedation and feel sleepy or relaxed.
• There is a certain effect of anesthesia as a result of which drunken people may go through physical traumas and realize that they are hurt, only when the effect of alcohol wares off.
• In most cases, alcohol can have an effect on gene expression.
• In some cases, the patient may become delirious.
• Some patients may show ‘risky’ behavior that can lead to conditions such as violence, abuse and assault.

In order to assess a person for alcohol induced psychosis, a doctor checks for the following factors such as:

• Alertness and physical stability that includes checking his blood pressure, respiratory rate and breathing.
• Evaluation of temperature, heart rate and tremens.
• A mental status assessment is conducted that includes checking for signs of memory failure, signs of delirium and delusions.

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