Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
Published on: June 23, 2023
Alcohol related conditions represent a major psychiatric problem in emergency departments
B T te Wildt1, C Andreis, I Auffahrt
1Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. tewildt.bert@mh-hannover.de
Background:
Alcoholism represents a huge socioeconomic burden in most developed societies.
Methods:
In order to determine the impact of conditions associated with alcohol abuse on emergency care, in 2002 all patients with alcohol related pathology presenting to the emergency department (ED) of a large urban university hospital in Germany were assessed.
Results:
Of 2194 patients seen by psychiatrists in the ED, the 613 cases associated with alcohol abuse represented the largest diagnostic group (30.7%). Within this group, alcohol intoxication was the most frequent diagnosis (71.4%). Patients with an alcohol related condition needed treatment by different medical specialities and required diagnostic procedures significantly more often and consequently stayed significantly longer in the ED than patients with other psychiatric presentations.
Conclusions:
The generally underestimated problem of alcohol abuse in Germany demands an excessive amount of manpower and resources in EDs, where a high yet expensive standard of care is provided. Against this background, how far this burden can be reduced, both in EDs and in society in general, is discussed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Depressants
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

