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Alcoolismo: Sintomas e Tratamento em Lisboa

ALCOHOLISM - Treatment in Lisbon

Specialised psychiatric assessment and treatment of alcohol dependence in Lisbon

WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM?

Avaliação psiquiátrica e neurobiológica do Alcoolismo — NeuroPsyque Lisboa

A whole-body illness, not a character flaw

Alcoholism, or Alcohol Use Disorder, is a chronic and progressive disease. It profoundly affects the brain's reward, motivation and memory systems. It's not just a lack of willpower. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption causes physical and chemical changes to the structure of the brain, making people unable to control their drinking, even though they know the serious consequences for their personal, social and professional lives.

Most common manifestations

  • Craving
    An uncontrollable and obsessive desire to consume alcohol, which dominates your thoughts throughout the day.
  • Loss of Control
    Systematic inability to stop or limit consumption after starting to drink.
  • Increased Tolerance
    The need to consume increasingly large quantities of alcohol to achieve the same effect (intoxication or relief).
  • Abstinence Syndrome
    Tremors, cold sweats, nausea, extreme anxiety or even convulsions when consumption is interrupted.

SIGNS, PATTERNS AND IMPACT

Abusive Consumption

A pattern characterised by drinking large quantities over a short period, several times a week, with the aim of getting drunk quickly, often masked as social drinking.

Intensive Standard

Physical and Psychological Dependence

Alcohol is used as a "medication" to deal with negative emotions, stress or to get to sleep, and it becomes a daily necessity.

Dependency

Systemic and Neurological Impact

Long-term consumption in large quantities causes irreversible liver damage (cirrhosis), heart problems and serious cognitive deficits (memory loss and alcoholic dementia).

Consequences

Biological and psychosocial factors

Genetics play a major role in the propensity to become addicted, along with facilitating environments, childhood traumas or untreated mental conditions.

Risk Factors
Estudo das vias de recompensa cerebrais na dependência do álcool

Alcohol consumption is often associated with other pathologies (Dual Diagnosis), such as Deep Depression and Chronic Anxiety.

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EFFECTIVENESS IN TREATMENT
ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

Clinical results based on pharmacological support, continuous psychotherapy and neuromodulation (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).

70%
maintaining abstinence with appropriate medical treatment and long-term psychotherapy
60%
reduction in relapse rates when underlying psychiatric illnesses are treated simultaneously
7.3 Months
for the cerebral cortex to recover and match the biological thickness of a healthy individual (with continued abstinence)
80%
of patients experience a major recovery in their cognitive functions after the first year of abstinence

* Recovery from addiction is an ongoing process. The data is based on rehabilitation interventions and long-term psychiatric follow-up.
Sources: clinical data, longitudinal studies of cortical recovery (Stanford University/PubMed), and evidence on combined intervention from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

TECHNOLOGY AND THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT

Avaliação Neurobiológica da Dependência
Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana (EMT)
Neuromodulação
Apoio Terapêutico
tDCS - Estimulação Eléctrica Transcraniana
qEEG Mapeamento Cerebral
Clínica Lisboa
Ondas Cerebrais
Fisiologia
Sala de Terapia
Espaço de Reabilitação

THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING SPECIALISED HELP

Denial of the disease is the main obstacle in the treatment of alcoholism. Many sufferers believe that they can stop whenever they want, but their dependent and altered brains won't allow it. Stopping alcohol consumption abruptly, after a period of severe physical dependence, without medical supervision, is dangerous and can trigger life-threatening consequences such as Delirium Tremens (confusion, hallucinations and severe tremors).

💡 Alcoholism can't be cured with "willpower" alone. It requires safe detoxification, neurobiological rehabilitation and ongoing psychological support.

At Clínica NeuroPsyque, the medical approach recognises addiction as a psychiatric and neurological disease. We offer pharmacological counselling to manage the withdrawal phase, combined with psychotherapy to treat trauma and associated mental health problems. Innovative interventions such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can also be very effective, integrated into the treatment to attenuate the urge to consume and treat parallel depressions. This approach allows for a forward-looking treatment, rather than just a short-term treatment of symptoms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's on Alcoholism

Can I suddenly stop drinking on my own?
If consumption is daily and intense, stopping abruptly (cold turkey), without medical supervision, is very dangerous. Alcoholism is not just a question of the mind, of the will. The body is physically dependent and sudden withdrawal can cause Alcohol Abstinence Syndrome, resulting in convulsions, hallucinations or cardiac arrest. In order to guarantee your well-being, the detox process should be closely monitored by specialised professionals.
Can alcoholism be cured?
Alcoholism is considered a chronic disease. There is no talk of a definitive cure for alcoholism, since even after an extended period of abstinence there is always the possibility of a relapse. With proper treatment and abstinence, the patient can keep the disease dormant and lead a perfectly healthy and fully functional life.
What role does medication play in treatment?
Medication works on two fronts: in the first phase, it helps to prevent the physical dangers and tremors of withdrawal (detoxification); in the second phase, specific medication can be used to reduce compulsion (the obsessive desire to drink) or to block the sensation of pleasure that alcohol gives the brain.
Does Neuromodulation (EMT) help with Alcoholism?
Yes. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (EMT) shows excellent results in the area of addictions. By stimulating specific areas of the prefrontal cortex, EMT helps to reduce impulsivity, reduce the desire to consume, and treat associated symptoms such as depression and severe anxiety that later lead to relapse.
How can the family help?
The family plays a fundamental role. Ideally, they should adopt a firm supportive stance, never covering up the problem and encouraging people to seek medical treatment. The family is very important in protecting the patient emotionally during the different phases of treatment.
Do I have to drink every day to be considered an alcoholic?
No. Drinking large amounts at once (for example, only at weekends) but with a loss of control is also a pathological pattern of Alcohol Use Disorder. The main indicator is not frequency (number of drinking days per week), but the inability to stop and the negative consequences that drinking has on the person's life. If you notice that you can't control your drinking, and if you notice significant damage to your day-to-day life, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.
Do I need a medical referral to book an appointment at NeuroPsyque?
You don't need a referral from your family doctor. You can book your psychiatric assessment directly with us to take the first step in your recovery. Contact us.