Alcoholic Disease and Neuropsychiatric Complications.: By Edith Kornyey and Akos Kassai-Farkas. Medicina, Budapest. Second reviewed edition: 2002.

Abstract

The two authors of this book, specialists in neurology, psychiatry and addiction, Drs Edith Kornyey and Akos Kassai-Farkas, have undertaken a survey of interesting topics in the current questions of alcoholic diseases and their neuropsychiatric consequences. The first part of the book is written by Dr Kassai-Farkas, who gives a review of the advanced history and diagnosis of the disease and the illness process and presents useful treatment data. The second part is the work of Dr Kornyey, who acquaints us with the biological factors of alcohol disease and the neuropsychiatric sequelaes. Kassai-Farkas gives, as an introduction, a colourful panorama of the history of alcoholism. He presents statistical data about European habits in consumption of spirits, emphasizing the situation in Hungary, where, similar to the neighbouring East European countries, there is unfortunately an increasing incidence. Analysing the causes, he refers to the ‘former socialist countries’ low-key policy for tackling alcohol problems among others. The author also deals with different ‘approaching models’ of alcoholism (demonic, ethical, criminal, sociological, romantic social). The model of alcoholism as a …