Disturbances of attention in alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Disturbances of attention have often been noted clinically in the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, but no studies to date have systematically explored this phenomenon. The present study examined attentional impairment in 20 tranquilizer-free alcohol withdrawal patients by using continuous performance tests assessing concentration in both an auditory and a visual mode. It was found that withdrawal patients generally evidenced poorer auditory than visual concentration. To investigate the relationship between the time-course of withdrawal and attentional impairment, the alcoholics were divided into an Early "Detox" and a Late "Detox" group, predicated on the reported amount of time since last alcohol consumption. Contrary to expectation, those alcoholics with a longer time-lapse since cessation exhibited poorer attentional performance than those with a shorter time-lapse. The possibility of an independent course for mental symptoms apart from physiological withdrawal signs was discussed.