Problemy alkoholowe w praktyce lekarza rodzinnego. Część I

Bohdan T. Woronowicz

Summary
The incidence of pathology associated with alcoholism in the general population is approximately 12%, but among patients it is much higher. In hospitals, the pathology associated with alcoholism is 42% for men and 35% for women. Approximately 20% of patients in medical centers that do not specialize in alcoholism treatments are considered to be drinking at a level referred to as "hazardous” (risky) or "harmful” (dangerous). Unfortunately, the family physicians too often ignore the drinking problems of their patients, until the drinking adversely affects their health or they become addicted.
The goal of this article is to disseminate practical knowledge on the subject of problems associated with alcoholism found in family practices, and also to give guidelines to the family physicians in dealing with people suspected of having problems associated with alcoholism.
The most common psychological problems and disturbances due to alcohol consumption are according to ICD-10: acute alcohol intoxication, harmful use, alcohol dependence syndrome, withdrawal state and delirium tremens. Very useful in limiting alcohol consumption as well as making decision treatments is an action called short intervention, whose goal is to minimize alcohol drinking by a person who is not addicted or to lead a person that is addicted to make a decision to start treatment. The need for the intervention may be prescribed by the internist (family physician) based on the finding of a change of the health status of the patient.
Since defensive mechanisms make it difficult or even impossible for an addicted person to realistically assess the or identify a problem, the decision to start treatment is usually initiated because of the health of the patient, reactions by loved ones, pressure by the employer or well done intervention. Most centers that specialize in Alcoholism treatments suggest directed actions to improve physical and psychological health, to limit consumption of alcohol (very often total abstention), and to help in making changes in the way they think, react etc, which will help them to acquire the ability to function without alcohol. Pharmaceuticals, according to scientists and doctors, can only be a support in addiction psychotherapy to lengthen the time of abstinence.
A very popular approach to treatment of alcohol dependency in the world as well as in Poland is the so-called Minnesota Model. This model treats alcohol dependency as a disease. This is significantly different from other disturbances or psychological diseases, and at the same time it is primary, chronic, deadly and what is very important beyond the patient´s control, since its existence is determined by different elements (polyetiology). The crucial element of ambulatory and non-ambulatory addiction psychotherapy programs is the participation of patients in AA and their loved onces in family group meetings of Al-Anon and Alateen.

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