Alcohol Abuse & Psychological Delusional Thinking

Alcohol abuse is defined by the experts at the Mayo Clinic as physical and mental dependence on alcohol, combined with a lack of control over one's drinking. Alcohol abuse entails may negative effects, and plenty of them take a toll on the brain.

Psychological delusional thinking can occur with alcohol abuse, especially--although not necessarily--if a preexisting condition such as schizophrenia is present. Understanding how alcohol can cause delusional thinking is crucial in identifying this serious mental-health issue in a loved one.

Significance

• Alcohol abuse is clearly linked to damaging effects on the brain, reports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The growth of new brain cells is impaired by severe cases of alcohol abuse, and mental-health issues commonly arise.

  The significance of the abuse of alcohol and its impairment of brain health in developing psychological delusional thinking cannot be understated--damage to the brain makes this type of thinking more likely to occur. Also, abusing alcohol while suffering from certain mental disorders is common and counterproductive to coping with the disease.

Identification

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people affected by schizophrenia are more likely to abuse alcohol than people without the disorder. Psychological delusional thinking can be aggravated by alcohol abuse, and is identified by key symptoms.

  A delusion is psychologically defined as a belief or system of beliefs which a person continues to hold--even when proved to be false or illogical. Someone suffering from delusional thinking aggravated by alcohol abuse may believe he is someone else, often identifying with well-known people from history. He may also experience paranoid delusions, feeling as though others are out to get him. Irrational thoughts of persecution are also identifiers of this type of thinking.

Effects

• The effects of alcohol abuse on delusional thinking can be quite straightforward, and related to alcoholism directly. For instance, someone persistently denying that he is abusing alcohol despite the negative effects on his life and those around him is exhibiting a form of delusional thinking called denial.

  Blackouts are another effect of abusing alcohol that can contribute to psychological delusional thinking. Someone suffering from alcoholism--with or without an accompanying mental disorder like schizophrenia--may wake up unable to remember anything from a period of intense intoxication. This can lead to delusional thoughts of events or personal interactions that may have occurred during the blackout.

Considerations

• Risk factors for alcohol abuse that can lead to or aggravate psychological delusional thinking should be carefully considered.

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists the factors that influence alcohol abuse-related brain damage. Among those are how much and how often a person drinks, how old he is, his family history of alcohol-related problems and individual health--both physical and mental. Carefully considering these can help you take action to prevent alcohol abuse leading to psychological delusional thinking.

Prevention/Solution

• The best prevention is education, and if you or a loved one is experiencing problems with alcohol abuse and psychological delusional thinking, talking to your family doctor is an essential first step. She is qualified to determine whether a mental disorder is also contributing to the problem, and may prescribe a medication and recommend counseling to help.

  The most important thing to know about psychological delusional thinking and alcohol abuse is that action needs to be taken at the first warning signs. Below, resources to help cope with alcohol abuse have been included to help you or your loved one through this difficult situation.