Cognitive functioning of alcoholics and its relationship with prognosis.
In a preliminary study a group of 30 alcoholics were subjected to psychological tests to explore the influence of regular alcohol intake on their cognitive functioning and its relationship with prognosis. The functions chosen were, arousal and maintenance of attention, verbal intelligence and performance intelligence. Tests used were the Binet Kamat test of intelligence and Bhatia short scale. Level of education was positively correlated with attention-span and verbal intelligence, but not with performance intelligence. The inter-test discrepancy alone on the performance intelligence test could be assessed for evaluation of cognitive impairment. Poor P.Q. scorers sought medical consultation before their mid thirties and had earlier onset of alcoholism. Elder addicts (above 35 years) showed more abstraction deficiency. The higher the P.Q. the higher was its' positive correlation with adjustment to work, but not to family.
Trivedi
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Jawharlal Institute of Postgraduate, Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry.
Raghavan
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects*