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Thought disorder in hospitalized alcoholics
The International Journal of the Addictions
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Thought disorder is common in male alcoholism patients, with only slight improvement after 4 weeks of treatment. This suggests complex cognitive interventions may be ineffective for detoxified alcoholics.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Thought disorder is a potential cognitive impairment in individuals with alcoholism.
- Understanding its persistence is crucial for effective alcoholism treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the occurrence and persistence of thought disorder in male patients undergoing alcoholism treatment.
- To evaluate changes in thought disorder over a 4-week treatment period.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST) to measure thought disorder.
- Tested 81 male patients at the start of treatment and after 4 weeks.
Main Results:
- Thought disorder was present in the majority of patients at both initial and follow-up assessments.
- A statistically significant, though mild, reduction in impairment scores was observed over 4 weeks.
- A small percentage of patients (11% initially, 17% at follow-up) showed no evidence of thought disorder.
Conclusions:
- Thought disorder is a persistent issue in male alcoholism patients, even after detoxification.
- The limited improvement suggests that complex cognitive interventions might not be suitable for this population.
- Treatment strategies may need to consider the cognitive status of alcoholic patients.