Piracetam in Alcoholic Psychoses: A Double-Blind, Crossover, Placebo Controlled Study

Introduction Various therapeutic approaches are applied for the treatment of psychiatric complications in patients suffering from chronic alcoholism, such as in the case of predeliriurn state, in delirium tremens and in alcoholic hallucinosis. One aim is to normalize the basic metabolic functions by means of the administration of infusions containing minerals, vitamins and glucose in order to rehydrate the patient, the other aim is a purely symptomatic treatment using tranquillizers and neuroleptics. Piracetam, a nootrop, may offer another rationale for therapy as it directly activates the higher cortical functions of the brain such as those involved with cognition, memory formation and retrieval, thought and state of consciousness and in the case of toxic aggression it facilitates restoration of normal brain activity. Piracetam has previously been studied in patients presenting with alcoholic psychosis in several open trials involving a total of about 200 patients (Aron & Nerot 1975, De Buck et al 1970, Delooz 1979, Marx 1974, Meyer et al 1979, Pottier 1973,TuronetaI1971). Our aim was to confirm the therapeutic properties of piracetam in alcoholic psychoses mentioned in the open trials by means of a double-blind, crossover study using placebo as the control agent.