Management of moderate to severe alcohol-related brain damage (Korsakoff's syndrome)

Australia has a very high prevalence of alcohol-related brain damage. A programme for the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with moderately severe to severe damage is described. Follow-up, one to two years after admission to hospital, showed that 51% of patients were sober and living in the community--a very satisfactory outcome. However, no patients were living fully independently. It is crucial that the nature of the cognitive deficit is fully understood, and that rehabilitation programmes focus on what the damaged patient can in fact achieve. The implications for the treatment of less severely damaged alcoholic patients are discussed.