Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder (AIPD) is a rare complication of alcohol
abuse which is characterized by an acute onset of auditory or visual
hallucinations that occur either during or after a period of heavy alcohol
consumption. Other symptoms include delusions, thought disorder,
psychomotor disturbances, and abnormal affect. To establish the diagnosis,
one must rule out other disorders such as alcohol withdrawal delirium or
other psychotic disorders. Although it is well recognised, relatively little is
known about the condition. Moreover, the pathogenesis and treatment of
AIPD are still unclear despite high co-morbidity with other psychiatric
disorders, high re-hospitalization as well as mortality rates and suicidal
behaviour. Therefore, the prognosis appears less favourable. We present a
case of young man with AIPD with suicidal attempt secondary to auditory
hallucination.
Marchiafava-Bignami disease, a rare affliction of alcoholic males, is described in a severely malnourished Malaysian Indian male who took no alcohol. It is the second report of the disease in an Asian and represents one of the few cases which have occurred in non-alcoholics. Besides the pathognomonic demyelination of the central portion of the corpus callosum, there were striking demyelinative plaques in the subcortical white matter. In addition, neuropathological features of Wernicke's disease were found suggesting that severe malnutrition with thiamine deficiency was probably the cause of his demise.