Alcoholic hallucinosis after chronic alcohol abuse: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Alcoholic hallucinosis is a rare complication of chronic alcohol abuse and a prevalence of 0.6–0.7% in alcoholics has been reported.

Case report

A 54-year-old Indian immigrant in Barcelona was referred for psychiatric evaluation in April 2016 by due of his behavioral alterations. Evaluation revealed that he was apparently asymptomatic when he come to Spain, 18 years ago. He had been consuming alcohol since 1974 and gradually the frequency and quantity increased to 600 mL of rum daily by 1996. He complained of hearing voices of family members, being irritable even when he was alone and in catatonic phases. He was found to be gloomy, reclusive, not sleeping and talking to oneself. He used to have sleep disturbances; irritability and tremors when temporarily stopped alcohol consumption. He presented a clinical abstinence syndrome, with pharmacological resistance to benzodiazepine perfusion: it was necessary to use dexmedetomidine an Alpha2-agonist with sedative and analgesic properties. After 12 days of medical treatment on UCI, he recovered from abstinence syndrome and was transferred to psychiatry ward. Blood analysis showed raised aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging brain revealed bilateral lateral ventricle enlargement with narrowing of lower end of Aqueduct of Sylvius. He was treated with oral paliperidone. The dose was gradually increased to 18 mg/day and he responded quickly. In the follow-up, he was abstinent from alcohol, compliant with treatment and free from all kinds of hallucinations after medication adherence and psychotherapy.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.