title: Cross-study comparisons of self-reported alcohol consumption in four clinical groups.
abstract: Clinical research on the chronic effects of alcohol has been difficult to evaluate and compare because of the failure by investigators to quantify self-reported alcohol consumption. The authors describe four diverse groups of patients who were treated for alcohol and/or drug abuse. After devising a procedure for comparing the data from these studies, they found that patient self-reports of alcohol consumption may be less distorted than commonly assumed. The present findings are consistent with current research indicating that self-reports of alcohol use are reliable and clinically consistent. The authors also discuss the relationship between neuropsychological impairment and measures of alcohol and drug abuse.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012647:Self-Assessment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*