Can long-term alcohol consumption cause psychosis?

Sep 30, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Introduction
In general, long-term alcohol consumption may lead to psychosis. Heavy and prolonged drinking is more likely to trigger psychiatric disorders, whereas moderate and long-term drinking may not cause such conditions. Moderate alcohol intake can be beneficial to physical and mental health, but chronic and excessive drinking may have adverse effects on the body. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust alcohol consumption according to individual health conditions in daily life.

Generally, long-term alcohol consumption may lead to psychosis. Heavy and prolonged drinking is highly likely to trigger psychiatric disorders; in contrast, moderate and long-term drinking may not cause psychosis.

1. Long-term heavy drinking: Chronic or excessive alcohol use can damage the central nervous system. Prolonged exposure of the brain to alcohol alters the balance of neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and glutamate, leading to the emergence of psychiatric symptoms. This damage accumulates gradually and may manifest as mental confusion, illusions, hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms.

2. Long-term moderate drinking: If daily alcohol intake is low, it typically does not cause significant damage to the central nervous system, so the risk of developing psychosis is relatively low.

In addition, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good dietary habits while engaging in long-term moderate drinking can further reduce the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders.

For patients who have already developed psychiatric symptoms, the primary step is to stop drinking. Psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy should be implemented, and if necessary, antipsychotic medications—such as olanzapine tablets, quetiapine fumarate tablets, or haloperidol tablets—may be used under medical supervision.

Moderate drinking may benefit physical and mental health, but long-term and excessive alcohol consumption can have adverse effects on the body. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust alcohol intake according to individual health conditions in daily life.

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