The association of alcohol-induced blackouts and grayouts to blood alcohol concentrations.
The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between measured blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and the presence and degree of amnesia (no amnesia, grayout, or blackout) in actively drinking subjects. A secondary aim was to determine potential factors other than BAC that contribute to the alcohol-induced memory loss. An interview questionnaire was administered to subjects regarding a recent alcohol associated arrest with a documented BAC greater than 0.08 g/dL for either public intoxication, driving under the influence, or under age drinking was administered. Demographic variables collected included drinking history, family history of alcoholism, presence of previous alcohol-related memory loss during a drinking episode, and drinking behavior during the episode. Memory of the drinking episode was evaluated to determine if either an alcohol-induced grayout (partial anterograde amnesia) or blackout (complete anterograde amnesia) occurred. Differences in (1) mean total number of drinks ingested before arrest, (2) gulping of drinks, and (3) BAC at arrest were found for those having blackouts compared with no amnesia; while differences in drinking more than planned were found between the no amnesia and grayout groups. A strong linear relationship between BAC and predicted probability of memory loss, particularly for blackouts was obvious. This finding clinically concludes that subjects with BAC of 310 g/dL or greater have a 0.50 or greater probability of having an alcoholic blackout.
Perry
Paul J
PJ
Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Division, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. paul-perry@uiowa.edu
Argo
Tami R
TR
Barnett
Mitchell J
MJ
Liesveld
Jill L
JL
Liskow
Barry
B
Hernan
Jillian M
JM
Trnka
Michael G
MG
Brabson
Mary A
MA
D000328:Adult; D020324:Amnesia, Anterograde / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol