Pathological Intoxication, Alcoholic Hallucinosis, and Other Reactions to Alcohol; A Clinical Study

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Abstract
"Pathological intoxication" and "alcoholic hallucinosis" are obsolete and inadequate diagnoses; persistence of belief in these diagnostic entities may be due to failure to distinguish between different types of reactions to alcohol. A revised classification of reactions to alcohol is presented, and the symptoms of the different reaction types are discussed, mainly from the point of view of logical classification and diagnosis, with especial reference to "pathological intoxication" and "alcoholic hallucinosis." From the standpoint of theoretical ego psychology, alcohol intoxication produces defects in ego function with release of underlying conflicts; these conflicts may be accentuated or provoked by coincident environmental psychological stimuli. Direct manifestations of conflictual material may appear, or there may be an attempt at restitution by accentuation of preexisting defense mechanisms or by the use of defense mechanisms not previously apparent.

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