Cerebrovascular Alterations in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Psychiatric Patients

摘要

This study examined 44 alcoholics, 6 drug abusers, and 6 depressed persons (males and females) who were patients at a psychiatric unit in Kecskemet, Hungary, and 13 healthy subjects (males) from the United States using the Cerberus system, a computer-based screening system designed for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cerberus was used to quantify the impact of alcohol on brain arteries; it involves the measurement of pulsatile electrical impedance in the brain by rheoencephalogram (REG). Measurement of psychological and somatic variables also was performed. REG anacrotic time above 180 ms was considered pathological. Four groups were formed according to smoking habits and average daily alcohol dose. REG anacrotic time was longer for the female patients than the male patients (p<0.01). Comparison of the alcoholic and drug patients showed a significantly shorter REG anacrotic time for the drug patients. Pathological REG values were found in 12 cases (9 alcoholics, 1 drug patient, 1 manic patient, and 1 recurrent depression patient). Analysis of variance showed that daily alcohol consumption and smoking were significantly higher in alcoholics than in drug patients or patients with depression. A factor analysis of the variables showed gender differences. Three factors were found both for males (cumulative percent=64.86) and females (75.56). Factor I, age and REG anacrotic time (males) and age with vegetative indexes (females); Factor 2, daily alcohol and cigarette consumption for both genders; Factor 3, REG and vegetative index (males). Longer REG anacrotic time was correlated with higher daily alcohol consumption (r=0.683, p=0.007) in a subgroup (n=12). The United States versus Hungarian group comparison confirmed the cerebrovascular alteration in the Hungarian alcoholic group. Elevated REG values in alcoholics may result from alcohol abuse and can be interpreted as accelerated arteriosclerosis.