PSY 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Insomnia

• School: Stony Brook University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 230
• Professor: Apajita Mohanty

Document Summary

5 drinks in short period (e. g. within an hour) 5 drinks, 5 or more times in a 30-day period. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome develop within several hours to a few days after an individual stops drinking. Autonomic symptoms (including sweating or racing heart) Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter and gaba is an inhibitory (calms things down) neurotransmitter. Alcohol suppresses glutamate and stimulates gaba receptors. Increases dopamine and serotonin levels (pleasurable aspects of intoxication, may be responsible for cravings) Alcoholics reduce their food intake when consuming alcohol. Can lead to brain damage and amnesia. Higher rates of high-risk drinking: native americans & hispanics. Greater risk for alcohol use disorders: whites & native americans. Once alcohol dependence occurs: blacks and hispanics experience higher rates than whites of recurrent or persistent dependent. Consequences of drinking appear to be more profound for native americans, Asians have low rates of alcoholism (1%)