Cognitive impairment in alcoholics

The research literature shows that, as a result of chronic alcohol abuse, there occur impairments in abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and perceptual-motor functioning. In an earlier study, Tamkin (1983) obtained significant differences between alcoholics and paired neurotic inpatient controls only on abstract reasoning measured on the Weigl Color-Form Sorting Test. Verbal functions and recall of designs showed no group differences. This study sought to replicate the Weigl test results and to examine other types of cognitive impairments in alcoholics relative to published norms. The study subjects were 104 male alcoholics in an alcohol rehabilitation unit. The tests used were the Weigl, Trails A and B, and three subtests of the WAIS. The proportion of impaired Weigl performances was similar to that obtained in 1983, and all the other test scores were significantly poorer than their published norms.