How do Psychiatrists help treat Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol addiction is a state of severe and compulsive alcohol consumption with frequent relapses of binge alcohol use for a prolonged period. The NIAAA (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), United States, claims alcohol addiction is a chronic disorder that affects the physical and mental wellness of individuals with a severe impact or consequences on social and occupational lives. 

Industry experts interchangeably use alcohol addiction with alcohol abuse or alcoholism—all differing in their severity from low to moderate to high.  

How intense is alcohol addiction globally?

As per the WHO (World Health Organization) report, in the year 2019, it was estimated that around four hundred million people of 15 or 15+ age across the world were experiencing alcohol use disorders—which accounts for about 7% of the world population. Pathetically, as per the United States NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) in 2023, it is found that more than 28 million Americans suffer from alcohol addiction—which accounts for nearly 10% of the American population.

Owing to this widespread alcohol addiction across countries, there were innumerable cardiovascular attacks, physical impairment, substance-use impulsion, and most importantly, deaths. Lately, this resulted in the pressing need for Psychiatric intervention and increased mental wellness experts, facilities, and infrastructures.  

Can Psychiatrists treat alcohol addiction?

Of course, psychiatrists are the right doctors that you may have to consult for disorders like alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Above all, psychotherapy is the primary focus more than detoxification and medication when it comes to alcohol de-addiction treatment. 

Also, a psychiatrist is the right person to help with diagnosis, understanding the root causes, and symptoms, and coming up with a personalized treatment method with a combination of therapies, and medications. However, the combination of treatment methods depends on the stage of addiction or the addiction severity.         

What are the different stages of the alcohol addiction cycle?

Briefed below are the three different stages of the alcohol addiction cycle that an addicted individual or patient goes through. However, it is not common for all to experience these stages in one go. Some may experience it across days, weeks, or even months. On the other hand, some may complete these stages in just a few hours.    

1. Binge/Intoxication Stage: Though initially you start consuming alcohol for pleasure, it becomes a habit and creates euphoria or the urge to drink more.
2. Negative Affect/Withdrawal Stage: This is the stage when you stop drinking which may result in negative feelings. And to overcome these effects, the addiction may continue.
3. Preoccupation/Anticipation Stage: This is when you stop drinking for a long time and think about when to drink next.

How do Psychiatrists treat alcohol abuse? 

Rehabilitation is the best and most effective treatment method for treating alcoholism and it includes a combination of treatments like therapy, detoxification, and medication. 

Therapy

Therapies are a kind of psychological treatments that help manage emotions effectively and improve the mental well-being of the patients. 

• Psychotherapy: This is more of a talk therapy carried out by psychiatrists or psychologists to understand the underlying problem, its symptoms, the triggers, the emotional consequences, etc. Understanding the problem in detail helps psychiatrists come up with the right set of treatments that help overcome their physical, mental, and social concerns.   

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: As the name implies, this therapy revolves around altering cognitive behavior—from negative thoughts and unhealthy habits to positive thoughts and healthy lifestyles. Stress, anxiety, or depression associated with alcohol disorder is mostly addressed with this type of therapy.

Detoxification

It is the process of withdrawal from alcohol abuse that may extend from weeks to months, based on the severity and the stage of the addiction cycle. As soon as the psychiatrist diagnoses the condition, the first step of treatment is always detoxification and the results are better when done via in-patient care. Also, the method of detoxification varies from one patient to another—either sedated or non-sedated.      

Medication

Doctors prescribe only U.S. FDA-approved medicines for deaddiction. However, research studies over these years have found that injected medications also seem effective like oral medications. Irrespectively, all these medications are powerful in altering the neuro signals in the brain and help the patient refrain from further alcohol triggers.  

• Oral medication: Naltrexone, disulfiram, and acamprosate are some of the majorly prescribed psychotropic medications. 

• Injected medication: A variant of naltrexone—Vivitrol—is found to be an effective injection pill for alcohol deaddiction.  

Recovery group activities

Joining a recovery group is an extraordinary way of treating alcohol abuse and may positively influence the patients to a greater extent. The two major recovery group activities include support and self-help.    

• Support groups: This method of treatment led by professional therapists or psychologists allows you to collaborate with a group of recovered and sober individuals who can share their experiences of deaddiction and motivate the patients to try towards attaining sobriety. 

• Self-help groups: While support groups are led by professionals, self-help groups are led by individuals. That is why they are called ‘self-help’ communities.  

Types of rehabilitation based on psychiatric care

• Inpatient: This is the most effective psychiatric care for alcohol deaddiction as the ambiance, the environment, the facilities, and the nurses support addiction recovery. In fact, a leading psychiatrist in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has proved that in-patients can help patients attain permanent recovery without relapse.

• Outpatient: When the addiction is less intense, psychiatrists may allow for this method of rehabilitation treatment, provided the family supports the decision.