Effects of Alcohol Dependence

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines alcohol dependence as "a condition characterized by impaired control over drinking, compulsive drinking, preoccupation with drinking, tolerance to alcohol, and/or withdrawal symptoms." This condition commonly leads to alcohol abuse, which may cause a person's personal, academic or professional life to deteriorate and lead to dangerous behavior and legal problems. Over time, alcohol dependence has ruinous effects on a person's body, brain and psyche.

Brain Damage

• Late-stage alcoholics who have been dependent on the substance for years may develop Wernicke's encephalopathy, a short-term disorder characterized by mental confusion, lack of physical coordination and paralysis in the nerves that regulate eye movement. According to the NIAAA, doctors may miss this diagnosis because people with Wernicke's may not have all three symptoms. Between 80 and 90 percent of Wernicke's encephalopathy sufferers develop Korsakoff's psychosis, the primary symptom of which is short-term memory loss.

Liver Damage

• Cirrhosis of the liver, which people often associate with alcoholism, is a condition in which scar tissue takes over healthy liver tissue, blocks blood flow and causes liver failure. It actually only occurs in 5 percent to 10 percent of alcoholics, according to the University of Florida College of Medicine. More commonly, alcoholics develop a condition called "fatty liver," characterized by the formation of fatty deposits on the liver that may lead to inflammation and cell death. Fatty liver can also be a precursor to cirrhosis.

Psychological Damage

• The University of Florida College of Medicine states that about 40 percent of alcoholics suffer some form of psychiatric disorder, the most common being bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and social phobia. Alcohol dependence exacerbates the symptoms of these disorders and negates the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment.