Alcoholism differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview

Alcoholism must be differentiated from other diseases such antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder in childhood, and nonpathological use of alcohol.[1]

Differential Diagnosis

Alcoholism must be differentiated from other diseases that cause personality changes, altered level of consciousness and hand tremors (asterixis). The differentials include the following:[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Diseases History and Symptoms Physical Examination Laboratory Findings
Personality changes Altered level of consciousness Hand tremors (asterixis) Slurred speech Writing disturbances Voice monotonous Impaired memory Elevated blood ammonia Hyponatremia hypokalemia
Hepatic encephalopathy ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++
Alcohol intoxication + + -/+ ++ + - + - -/+ -/+
Alcohol withdrawal + + - ++ + - + - -/+ -/+
Uremia ++ ++ + -/+ -/+ -/+ - ++ Hyperkalemia
Wernicke encephalopathy + + -/+ + + + ++ - - -
Toxic encephalopathy from drugs + + -/+ -/+ + -/+ + + -/+ -/+
Altered intracranial pressure + -/+ - -/+ -/+ - -/+ - - -
Intoxication by chemical agents -/+ -/+ -/+ -/+ -/+ - - - -/+ -/+
Malnutrition -/+ - - - -/+ - -/+ - -/+ -/+
Hypoxic brain injury - -/+ - -/+ -/+ -/+ -/+ - - -
Meningitis and encephalitis -/+ -/+ - -/+ + - - - -/+ -
Hypoglycemia -/+ -/+ - -/+ -/+ - - - -/+ -/+

Acute Intoxication

  • Other medical conditions
  • Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic intoxication

Alcohol Use Disorder/Alcoholism

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association. 2013. ISBN 0890425558.
  2. Meparidze MM, Kodua TE, Lashkhi KS (2010). "[Speech impairment predisposes to cognitive deterioration in hepatic encephalopathy]". Georgian Med News (181): 43–9. PMID 20495225.
  3. Kattimani S, Bharadwaj B (2013). "Clinical management of alcohol withdrawal: A systematic review". Ind Psychiatry J. 22 (2): 100–8. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.132914. PMC 4085800. PMID 25013309.
  4. Roldán J, Frauca C, Dueñas A (2003). "[Alcohol intoxication]". An Sist Sanit Navar. 26 Suppl 1: 129–39. PMID 12813481.
  5. Seifter JL, Samuels MA (2011). "Uremic encephalopathy and other brain disorders associated with renal failure". Semin Neurol. 31 (2): 139–43. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1277984. PMID 21590619.
  6. Handler CE, Perkin GD (1983). "Wernicke's encephalopathy". J R Soc Med. 76 (5): 339–42. PMC 1439130. PMID 6864698.
  7. Kim Y, Kim JW (2012). "Toxic encephalopathy". Saf Health Work. 3 (4): 243–56. doi:10.5491/SHAW.2012.3.4.243. PMC 3521923. PMID 23251840.
  8. Hartmann A, Buttinger C, Rommel T, Czernicki Z, Trtinjiak F (1989). "Alteration of intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow, autoregulation and carbondioxide-reactivity by hypotensive agents in baboons with intracranial hypertension". Neurochirurgia (Stuttg). 32 (2): 37–43. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1053998. PMID 2497395.
  9. Kumar N (2011). "Acute and subacute encephalopathies: deficiency states (nutritional)". Semin Neurol. 31 (2): 169–83. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1277986. PMID 21590622.
  10. Chiu GS, Chatterjee D, Darmody PT, Walsh JP, Meling DD, Johnson RW; et al. (2012). "Hypoxia/reoxygenation impairs memory formation via adenosine-dependent activation of caspase 1". J Neurosci. 32 (40): 13945–55. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0704-12.2012. PMC 3476834. PMID 23035103.
  11. Peate I (2004). "An overview of meningitis: signs, symptoms, treatment and support". Br J Nurs. 13 (13): 796–801. doi:10.12968/bjon.2004.13.13.13501. PMID 15284663.
  12. Abdelhafiz AH, Rodríguez-Mañas L, Morley JE, Sinclair AJ (2015). "Hypoglycemia in older people - a less well recognized risk factor for frailty". Aging Dis. 6 (2): 156–67. doi:10.14336/AD.2014.0330. PMC 4365959. PMID 25821643.