NEUROTRANSMITTER CHANGES IN ALCOHOLISM AND IN THE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME(NEUROBIOLOGICAL TESTS OF ALCOHOLISM)

In this paper, we show the results of the investigation dealing with t he neurobiological markers of alcoholism in the group of 39 alcoholics suffering from the withdrawal syndrome (WS), compared to the results of the group of 39 alcoholics showing no signs of the withdrawal syndr ome. The groups examined differ by age, duration of the continuous dri nking, daily amount of the alcohol consumed (g) and tolerance to alcoh ol. All clinical disturbances prevail in the group of alcoholics with the withdrawal crisis. The incidence of individual findings was compar ed by means of chi(2) test and by means of Poisson's comparison of pro portions for the independent groups, with the statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The increased values of epinephrine were observed in 36 (93,32%) of alcoholics with WS and 37 (94,88%) without WS, norepin ephrine values were increased in 33 alcoholics (84,61%) with WS and 35 (89%) without WS. Serotonine values are decreased in 35 (89,75%) subj ects with WS and 34 (87,18%) subjects without WS. 5-HIAA values were i ncreased in 4 (10,25%) subjects with WS and 5 (12,82%) subjects withou t WS, and all other subjects in both groups showed lower values, thoug h inside the normal margins. By means of laboratory testing, very high ly sensitivity of epinephrine (94,88%), norepinephrine (84,61%) and se rotonine (89,75%) test was determined for both groups of subjects.