Which complication is indicated by a syndrome of confusion, memory loss, and confabulation in a client with alcohol use disorder?

Korsakoff's psychosis is a serious complication associated with chronic alcohol use disorder. It is characterized by a syndrome of confusion, memory loss, and confabulation, which is a behavior where an individual fabricates, distorts, or misinterprets memories about themselves or the world, without the intention to deceive. This condition arises mostly from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which is often seen in individuals with prolonged alcohol misuse due to poor dietary habits and malabsorption.

In Korsakoff's psychosis, the memory impairment primarily affects the ability to form new memories, while past memories may remain intact. The confusion and confabulation are responses to gaps in memory, where the individual may unconsciously fill in those gaps with fabricated stories or information. This distinct symptomology differentiates it from other conditions like Wernicke's encephalopathy, which primarily features more acute symptoms such as confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia rather than the chronic memory issues seen in Korsakoff's psychosis.

The other options, such as vascular neurocognitive disorder, typically involve cognitive decline due to cerebrovascular issues, and esophageal varices are physical complications resulting from liver damage due to alcohol, not directly associated