Electroencephalographic and autonomic predictors of relapse in alcohol-dependent patients

Measures of electroencephalographic and autonomic activity were recorded from 17 alcohol-dependent patients (after 7-10 and 14-17 days of abstinence) and 14 age-matched non-drug-dependent controls (after comparable intervals). The alcohol-dependent group was divided into subgroups of abstinence-prone or relapse-prone patients, based on their 3-month posttreatment outcome. Data analyses revealed that relapse-prone patients evidenced more electroencephalographic beta-activity at the vertex lead, and a larger amplitude carotid pulse than abstinence-prone patients and controls. The implications of these preliminary findings for relapse prediction and typological development are discussed.