20th February 2024

Epidemiology, aetiology and pathophysiology

Up to 2-8% of patients who have alcohol-use disorders have symptoms suggestive of alcohol withdrawal, and this increases to 40-50% when looking at patients admitted to the Emergency department with trauma. Up to 25% of these patients have delirium tremens. 

Abrupt cessation of alcohol use is often implicated as the cause of alcohol withdrawal cessation. Alcohol acts as a CNS depressant by inhibiting excitatory (glutamate) receptors while enhancing inhibitory (GABA) receptors. Removal of alcohol results in overexcitation of the CNS system, leading to withdrawal symptoms and delirium tremens.