Alcohol Use Flashcards
What are the safe levels of alcohol consumption for men and women per week?
Men = 21 units according to WHO, 17 units according to Ireland
Women = 14 units according to WHO, 11 units according to Ireland
What constitues binge drinking?
definitions are disputed but the WHO defines binge drinking as 6 units or more
How do we define alcohol use disorder using criteria?
What are the associated risks of alcohol use?
Alcohol is CAUSALLY related to
What are the risks of alcohol in pregnancy?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Spontaneous abortion
Low Birth Weight babies
What is the Tension Reduction Hypothesis of Alcohol abuse?
People drink to reduce tension and anxiety because there is a direct effect of alcohol on the nervous system
-there is an indirect reduction in anxiety via altered information processing (decreasing negative self-evaluation)
*this theory is not well supported by literature*
What is the operant conditioning theory of alcohol abuse?
- Normal drinking becomes problem drinking due to reinforcement with personal, social and physiological rewards
- gradient of reinforcement - reinforcement occuring rapidly (reduced anxiety) and much more effective than delayed reinforcement of hangover
What is the social learning theory of alcohol abuse?
- self efficacy (confidence)
- learning by imitation
- expectancies
- cultural influence
What is the genetic theory of alcohol abuse? Is it a valid theory?
Genetic theory constitutes that alcohol abuse is dependent on genetics - DNA variations associated with metabolism of alcohol, biological determinism…
- Evidence states that there is a degree of genetics in alcohol abuse, but it’s undecided whether alcohol problems run in families or if it’s due to learning from parents
What does alcohol dependence syndrome include?
Tolerance, withdrawal, larger amounts, unsuccessful efforts to quit, decrease in important activities, excessie time spent obtaining alcohol, continued drinking despite exacerbation of problems etc.
Describe the CAGE questionnaire
It is a screening tool for alcohol dependency
1) have you ever felt you should CUT down on your drinking?
2) have people ANNOYED you by criticising your drinking?
3) have you ever felt GUILTY about drinking?
4) have you ever had a drink first thing in morning? (EYE OPENER)
- 2 or more yes= probable issues
Describe the alcohol users disorders identification test (AUDIT) C
if score is 5+ ask remaining questions including
- how often have you fuond you were not able to stop drinking once started?
- How often in the last year have you failed to do what was expected of you b/c of drinking
- How often in the year have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get you going?
- how often have you had a feeling of guilt or regret after drinking?
- how often have you not been able to remember what happened the night before?
- Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
- has a relative/friend/doctor/health worker been concered about your drinking or advised you to cut down?
0-7= sensible drinking
8-15= hazardous drinking
16-19= harmful drinking
20+ = possible dependence
Which screening tool is most effective in identifying subjects with at-risk hazardous or harmful drinking?
AUDIT screening tool
Which screening tool was more effective at detecting alcohol abuse and dependence?
CAGE
