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Alcoholism secondary to essential tremor
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|April 1, 1982
Summary
Essential tremor patients may abuse alcohol because it temporarily relieves shakiness. Controlling essential tremor with beta-blockers might prevent secondary alcoholism.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Essential tremor is a neurological condition characterized by involuntary shaking.
- Alcohol consumption is anecdotally reported to temporarily alleviate tremor symptoms.
Observation:
- Three case reports suggest a link between essential tremor and alcohol abuse.
- Patients with essential tremor may develop secondary alcoholism.
Findings:
- Alcohol provides transient relief from essential tremor symptoms.
- A potential causal relationship between essential tremor and alcoholism is proposed.
Implications:
- Beta-adrenergic blocking agents could treat or prevent secondary alcoholism in essential tremor patients.
- Further research into the etiology of alcoholism is warranted, considering neurological underpinnings.