title: Alcohol-Induced Blackouts: A Review of Recent Clinical Research with Practical Implications and Recommendations for Future Studies.
abstract: Alcohol-induced blackouts, or memory loss for all or portions of events that occurred during a drinking episode, are reported by approximately 50% of drinkers and are associated with a wide range of negative consequences, including injury and death. As such, identifying the factors that contribute to and result from alcohol-induced blackouts is critical in developing effective prevention programs. Here, we provide an updated review (2010 to 2015) of clinical research focused on alcohol-induced blackouts, outline practical and clinical implications, and provide recommendations for future research.
  
  
  
  A comprehensive, systematic literature review was conducted to examine all articles published between January 2010 through August 2015 that focused on vulnerabilities, consequences, and possible mechanisms for alcohol-induced blackouts.
  
  
  
  Twenty-six studies reported on alcohol-induced blackouts. Fifteen studies examined prevalence and/or predictors of alcohol-induced blackouts. Six publications described the consequences of alcohol-induced blackouts, and 5 studies explored potential cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced blackouts.
  
  
  
  Recent research on alcohol-induced blackouts suggests that individual differences, not just alcohol consumption, increase the likelihood of experiencing an alcohol-induced blackout, and the consequences of alcohol-induced blackouts extend beyond the consequences related to the drinking episode to include psychiatric symptoms and neurobiological abnormalities. Prospective studies and a standardized assessment of alcohol-induced blackouts are needed to fully characterize factors associated with alcohol-induced blackouts and to improve prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center for Studies of Addiction, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Reagan R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wetherill
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fromme
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Alcohol; Blackouts; Ethanol; Memory Impairments