Correlates of Alcoholic Blackout Experience

Correlates of Alcoholic Blackout Experience
6
testing.

Measures

The examination schedule consisted of sub-tests from the WAIS and
the WAIS-R. The WAIS was used with thirty-eight subjects, the WAIS-R,
over a somewhat later period, with twenty-nine. The sub-tests used were Digit
Symbol, Block Design and Digit Span, selected for their established
sensitivity as measures of alcoholic cognitive impairment [16]. Vocabulary
and Picture Completion were also included as indicators of premorbid
intellectual functioning [17]. Memory was measured by Russell's [18]
adaptation of the Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction sub-tests of the
Wechsler Memory Scale [13]. Russell's adaptation involves the addition of
delayed memory trials to the original procedure. A gist scoring system similar
to that of Schwartz and Ivnik [19] was used to score both trials of Logical
Memory. Trail Making Tests A and B, which are also sensitive to the effects
of alcohol abuse [12], were also administered. Most subjects were examined
by the author, an experienced clinical psychologist; a few were examined by
pre-doctoral clinical psychology trainees under his direct supervision.

The mean number of definite alcohol-free days prior to
neuropsychological examination was 47 (SD = 37). The exclusion minimum
was 21 alcohol-free days. Hospital practice was to order laboratory tests for

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