Glossary / Lexicon

Korsakoff psychosis refers to an amnestic disorder caused by damage to the thalamus as a result of chronic, heavy alcohol use.

Korsakoff psychosis is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by a deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1) in the brain. It is characterized by a range of symptoms such as severe memory loss, confusion, and disorientation, along with other cognitive and neurological symptoms. This disorder is most commonly associated with chronic alcoholism, although it can also occur in people with other conditions that cause thiamine deficiency, such as anorexia nervosa, gastric bypass surgery, and cancer.

The primary cause of Korsakoff psychosis is a deficiency in thiamine, which can lead to damage in various parts of the brain, including the thalamus, mammillary bodies, and hippocampus. These brain regions are crucial for memory formation, and damage to them can result in severe anterograde amnesia, which is the inability to form new memories. In addition, individuals with Korsakoff psychosis may also experience retrograde amnesia, which is the loss of previously formed memories.

Some of the most common symptoms of Korsakoff psychosis include:

1. Severe memory loss: Individuals with Korsakoff psychosis may have difficulty remembering recent events, as well as recalling information from their past.

2. Confabulation: Confabulation is the tendency to fill in gaps in one's memory with false or made-up information. Individuals with Korsakoff psychosis may confabulate to compensate for their memory loss.

3. Attention deficits: Korsakoff psychosis can also result in difficulty paying attention and staying focused.

4. Visual problems: Korsakoff psychosis can cause eye movement abnormalities, double vision, and difficulty tracking moving objects.

5. Neurological symptoms: Individuals with Korsakoff psychosis may experience a range of neurological symptoms, including weakness, tremors, and lack of coordination.

Treatment for Korsakoff psychosis involves addressing the underlying thiamine deficiency and providing support for the cognitive and neurological symptoms associated with the disorder. In some cases, individuals may need to be hospitalized to receive intravenous thiamine supplementation. Long-term management of Korsakoff psychosis may involve cognitive rehabilitation to help individuals compensate for their memory loss and other cognitive deficits.

Some similar disorders to Korsakoff psychosis include Wernicke encephalopathy and alcoholic dementia. Wernicke encephalopathy is a neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency that is characterized by symptoms such as confusion, eye movement abnormalities, and difficulties with balance and coordination. If left untreated, Wernicke encephalopathy can progress to Korsakoff psychosis. Alcoholic dementia is a form of dementia that occurs in individuals with a history of heavy alcohol use. Like Korsakoff psychosis, alcoholic dementia can result in severe memory loss and other cognitive deficits.

In conclusion, Korsakoff psychosis is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is primarily caused by a deficiency in thiamine in the brain. It is commonly associated with chronic alcoholism, although it can occur in individuals with other conditions that cause thiamine deficiency. The disorder is characterized by severe memory loss, confusion, and disorientation, along with other cognitive and neurological symptoms. Treatment for Korsakoff psychosis involves addressing the underlying thiamine deficiency and providing support for the cognitive and neurological symptoms associated with the disorder.