alcoholic psychosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Technical/Medical)Formal, Technical, Medical/Clinical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “alcoholic psychosis” mean?
A severe mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, directly caused by prolonged, heavy alcohol use or withdrawal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A severe mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, directly caused by prolonged, heavy alcohol use or withdrawal.
A category of alcohol-induced psychotic disorders, including conditions like alcoholic hallucinosis and delirium tremens, where the psychotic symptoms are a direct physiological consequence of alcohol's toxic effects on the brain or the stress of withdrawal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling remains consistent.
Connotations
Identical clinical and severe connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to medical, psychiatric, and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “alcoholic psychosis” in a Sentence
Patient + has/suffers from + alcoholic psychosisAlcohol abuse + leads to/causes + alcoholic psychosisVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, psychiatric, and public health research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare; a layperson might use a simpler term like "lost his mind from drinking" or "DTs."
Technical
Core usage. Found in clinical diagnoses, psychiatric evaluations, hospital records, and diagnostic manuals (e.g., ICD-11, DSM-5).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alcoholic psychosis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alcoholic psychosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alcoholic psychosis”
- Using it to describe any odd behaviour while drunk. Confusing it with intoxication or simple hangover anxiety. Using it where 'alcoholism' or 'alcohol use disorder' (the addiction) is meant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Crazy drunk' is a vague, informal term for extreme intoxication. Alcoholic psychosis is a specific, severe medical diagnosis resulting from long-term damage or acute withdrawal.
Yes, it is a medical emergency requiring hospitalisation. Treatment involves managing withdrawal symptoms, administering medication (like benzodiazepines and antipsychotics), providing supportive care, and long-term treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Delirium tremens is a specific, life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal that can include psychotic symptoms. It is therefore a subtype of alcohol withdrawal, which itself falls under the broader category of alcohol-induced disorders, including psychotic ones.
Duration varies. Acute episodes during withdrawal may last days to a week with treatment. Psychotic symptoms linked to chronic toxicity may persist longer and require ongoing management, especially if underlying brain damage is present.
A severe mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, directly caused by prolonged, heavy alcohol use or withdrawal.
Alcoholic psychosis is usually formal, technical, medical/clinical, academic in register.
Alcoholic psychosis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæl.kəˈhɒl.ɪk saɪˈkəʊ.sɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæl.kəˈhɑː.lɪk saɪˈkoʊ.sɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ALCOHOL is the direct key (PSYCH) to the OS (operating system) of the mind failing (OSIS = condition).'
Conceptual Metaphor
ALCOHOL IS A NEUROTOXIN / THE MIND IS A DAMAGED MACHINE
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'alcoholic psychosis' most appropriately used?