Twenty-four hour ambulatory monitoring of tremor, sweating, skin temperature and locomotor activity in the alcohol withdrawal syndrome

An ambulatory monitor has been used to determine the characteristic patterns of tremor, sweating, skin temperature and locomotor activity in subjects undergoing alcohol withdrawal. Twenty-four hour records were obtained from six male subjects who had been consuming an average of 345 g of alcohol per...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical autonomic research 1994-04, Vol.4 (1-2), p.15-18
Main Authors: White, J M, Frewin, C R, Kaur, M, Flavel, S, McGregor, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Circadian Rhythm
Ethanol - adverse effects
Humans
Locomotion
Male
Middle Aged
Monitoring, Physiologic
Skin Temperature
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - physiopathology
Sweating
Tremor - physiopathology
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Summary:An ambulatory monitor has been used to determine the characteristic patterns of tremor, sweating, skin temperature and locomotor activity in subjects undergoing alcohol withdrawal. Twenty-four hour records were obtained from six male subjects who had been consuming an average of 345 g of alcohol per day prior to cessation and from a group of age-matched controls. Consistent with earlier research and clinical observation, tremor, sweating and locomotor activity were elevated in withdrawal subjects. Sweating was greatest in the period from approximately 00.00 h to 06.00 h, as was skin temperature. Tremor and activity levels decreased during this period, but were considerably higher in withdrawal subjects. The data suggest that 24-h monitoring of alcohol withdrawal using objective methods provides a more sensitive assessment technique than the standard clinical approaches. The technique may be of value in other dysautonomic states.
ISSN:0959-9851
1619-1560
DOI:10.1007/bf01828833