ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of brain atrophy in alcoholic patients as measured by two methods--psychological testing and CAT scanning. The study focused upon the relationships between gross cerebral atrophy and two variables which are considered to be major determinants in the development of brain damage. The variables are (1) the quantity-frequency of alcohol intake, and (2) the duration of problematic drinking. The results show that the degree of brain damage is related to the intensity of exposure to alcohol and clearly indicate that psychological testing is a reliable method for, at least, an initial diagnosis of or screening for alcohol-related cerebral atrophy.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/pathology , Brain/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Adult , Aged , Atrophy , Brain Damage, Chronic/pathology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Breathalyzer tests were administered to 500 DUI offenders on the day that they arrived for their scheduled presentencing psychosocial evaluations. Positive blood alcohol levels were found in 132 (26.4%) of the offenders. The persons with positive blood alcohol levels were more likely to be diagnosed as having alcoholism disorders, had higher blood alcohol levels at the times of their arrests, complained of more severe symptoms attributable to excessive alcohol use and drank more than those who did not have positive blood alcohol levels.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication/blood , Alcoholism/blood , Automobile Driving , Ethanol/blood , Adult , Alcoholic Intoxication/diagnosis , Alcoholism/diagnosis , Breath Tests , HumansABSTRACT
Eighty patients admitted to a specialized alcohol detoxification unit, who had blood alcohol levels of .15% or less and were not currently intoxicated, participated in a double-blind trial involving treatment with either halazepam or chlordiazepoxide. A flexible dosage schedule was followed for 5 days with the objective of using the largest dose on the first day, followed by daily reductions as clinically feasible. Efficacy evaluations indicated that halazepam was as effective as chlordiazepoxide in the control of symptoms in patients hospitalized for the medical management of acute alcohol withdrawal. No significant side effects were noted.
Subject(s)
Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Benzodiazepines , Benzodiazepinones/therapeutic use , Ethanol/adverse effects , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/drug therapy , Acute Disease , Adult , Alcoholism/drug therapy , Alcoholism/psychology , Anti-Anxiety Agents/adverse effects , Benzodiazepinones/adverse effects , Chlordiazepoxide/adverse effects , Chlordiazepoxide/therapeutic use , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Random Allocation , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/psychologyABSTRACT
In a study of 124 high-risk drivers, almost 50% of the drives had a severe problem with alcohol and were driving without a valid license. The findings indicate that high-risk drivers, not identified as drinking drivers, are as potentially a threat to public health as those individuals arrested for driving while intoxicated. It is recommended that intervention programs for high-risk drivers cannot ignore alcohol education and, where appropriate, alcohol treatment as an identifiable programmatic strategy.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Alcoholic Intoxication/psychology , Antisocial Personality Disorder/psychology , Automobile Driving , Personality Tests , Adult , Alcoholism/psychology , Humans , Risk , Social Adjustment , Substance-Related Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
The NIAAA Alcohol Impairment Index affords a reliable measure of alcohol-related behavior in drunken-driving offenders and is less time-consuming than the more widely employed Mortimer-Filkins Interview.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/diagnosis , Automobile Driving , Accidents, Traffic/prevention & control , Adult , Alcohol Drinking , Alcoholic Intoxication/diagnosis , Ethanol/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Personality , Psychological Tests , RecurrenceABSTRACT
In the light of the fact that ethyl alcohol can cause damage to the brain, especially in the area of motor control, a study of the incidence of alcohol-related neuropsychological impairment in individuals arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) would be of great value. The authors report on 100 DWI offenders given a Memory-for Designs Test: 33% of the offenders were in the borderline range for organicity and a further 24% were in the critical range. Although they advise caution in interpreting these data, the authors point out a number of implications their analyses have for those interested in alcohol-related highway safety programs.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/psychology , Automobile Driving , Memory, Short-Term/drug effects , Space Perception/drug effects , Adult , Ethanol/blood , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
Statistical analysis of blood alcohol concentration at time of arrest, quantity-frequency level of drinking and scores on an impairment index and the N Scale of the Eysenck Personality Inventory differentiated 7 types among 1500 men arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication , Alcoholism/therapy , Automobile Driving , Social Control, Formal , Adult , Aftercare , Alcohol Drinking , Alcoholic Intoxication/complications , Alcoholics Anonymous , Alcoholism/genetics , Behavior Therapy , Ethanol/blood , Family Characteristics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurotic Disorders/complications , Personality , Psychotherapy , Statistics as TopicABSTRACT
This study was designed to further explore and compare psychological characteristics in male and female alcoholics at an inpatient treatment program of an urban general hospital. In addition to comparing male and female variables, the study also sets out to determine whether there is any correlation between depression and female alcoholics.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/psychology , Women , Adult , Alcoholism/complications , Anxiety/complications , Depression/complications , Female , Humans , Male , Marriage , Sex FactorsSubject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Automobile Driving , Patient Education as Topic , Adult , Alcoholism/therapy , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , MMPI , Male , Pilot Projects , PsychotherapyABSTRACT
Because of their moderate correlation with Breathalyzer measurements of blood alcohol concentration, self-reports and clinical judgments of alcohol consumption are unreliable.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication , Automobile Driving , Breath Tests , Adult , Behavior/drug effects , Ethanol/blood , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Men arrested for the first time for driving while intoxicated were more tense, depressed, angry and fatigued during the month preceding their arrest than were men arrested for the second time for the same offense.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication/psychology , Automobile Driving , Emotions , Adult , Crime , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The incidence of psychopathology in persons arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) has serious implications in both alcoholism treatment and in general highway safety. This study investigated the types of psychopathology, as measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), in a sample of 116 males referred for treatment by a court diversion program.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/complications , Automobile Driving , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Social Control, Formal , Accidents, Traffic/prevention & control , Adult , Alcoholism/diagnosis , Female , Humans , MMPI , Male , Mental Disorders/complications , Middle Aged , Neurotic Disorders/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
Men having a high blood alcohol concentration when arrested for drunken driving reported more drinking and more alcohol-related impairment than did men with lower concentrations.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication/psychology , Ethanol/blood , Adult , Alcohol Drinking , Alcoholism/psychology , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
In a study of persons convicted of driving while intoxicated, mean scores on two measures of alcohol impairment decreased in subjects who completed an educational safe driving program and in those did not, suggesting a need for new approaches to DWI problems.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Automobile Driving , Health Education , Alcoholism/prevention & control , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Social Control, FormalABSTRACT
No differences in moods were found between alcoholics and drug addicts, but the alcoholics were significantly more neurotic than the addicts.
