Health and life hazards related to aggressive behaviour of patients diagnosed with alcohol abstinence syndrome

Abstract

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is one of the most serious disorders resulting from alcohol addiction. Moreover, this disorder may cause complications such as hallucinations including delirium. Doctors and paramedics dealing with patients very often face aggressive behaviour. The aim of the study was to investigate the scale of that phenomenon and characterize it. The study included the analysis of patients’ medical documentation with diagnosed alcohol abstinence syndrome at the time of admission. Research confirmed that the aggressive behaviour occurred in 25% of cases. It occurred most frequently in case of delirium, and was directed to the patient’s environment. Conclusions: 1) Aggressive behaviour is quite a serious problem that affected every fourth patient being tested. The reasons can be different, but the crew of ambulances and doctors from hospital wards must be attentive and prepared for all kinds of violent behaviour, not only towards them, but to the patient himself also. 2) Aggressive behaviour was observed more frequently in the event of alcoholic delirium. 3) Aggression demonstrated by the patients with alcohol abstinence syndrome is addressed in almost ⅔ of the cases to the environment of the patient.

Keywords

• alcohol
• aggression
• alcohol withdrawal syndrome
• delirium