[Autonomic nervous system function at different periods in the alcohol abstinence syndrome]

Four periods of alcoholic withdrawal syndrome development were identified during examination of 156 male patients: 1-5 days (the 1st period), 6-10 days (the 2nd), 11-30 days (the 3rd), 30 days and more (the 4th). Different indices of autonomic nervous system function were investigated including different tests (cold test, ocular-cardiac reflex, ortho- and clinostatic tests, psychological tests, etc). It was determined that sympathicotonia which was quite characteristic for the 1st period became less expressed in the 2nd one. The 3rd period was characterized by maximal parasympathetic prevalence, especially in cardiovascular system. The 4th period was characterized by normalization of the basic autonomic indices with partial vagotonic tendencies.