Cognitive impairment among alcoholics: Impact on drink refusal skill acquisition and treatment outcome

https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(91)90019-EGet rights and content

Abstract

The impact of neuropsychological impairment on drink refusal skill acquisition and treatment outcome was examined in 33 male alcoholic inpatients. Subjects stratified by Abstraction scores on the Shipley Institute of Living Scale (SILS) performed differentially on drink refusal components of the Situational Competency Test (SCT) following a skills-based drink refusal intervention. Higher abstraction subjects tended to respond more rapidly on the SCT at post-training, had significantly higher scores on a quiz about effective drink refusal at baseline, and tended to improve more on the quiz following training than subjects with lower conceptual functioning. Aftercare attendance was significantly greater among the higher neuropsychological functioning group. When subjects were categorized by Brain Age Quotient no differences were found in skill acquisition nor in aftercare attendance. Subjects who showed the most learning on the California Verbal Learning Test demonstrated significantly better performance on the drink refusal quiz at post-training. Implications for alcoholism treatment are discussed.

References (29)

  • T. Ahles et al.

    Impact of aftercare arrangements on the maintenance of treatment success in abusive drinkers

    Addictive Behaviors

    (1983)
  • M.W. Abbott et al.

    Cognitive dysfunction in the prediction of relapse in alcoholics

    Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1981)
  • American Psychiatric Association

    Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

    (1980)
  • J. Becker et al.

    Impaired memory for treatment-relevant information in inpatient men alcoholics

    Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1984)
  • E.F. Chaney et al.

    Skill training with alcoholics

    Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

    (1978)
  • D. Delis et al.

    California verbal learning test (CVLT)

    (1986)
  • M.J. Eckardt et al.

    Neuropsychological performance and treatment outcome in male alcoholics

    Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

    (1988)
  • J. Finney et al.

    Matching patients with treatments: Conceptual and methodological issues

    Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1986)
  • L.C. Fitzhugh et al.

    Adaptive abilities and intellectual functioning of hospitalized alcoholics: Further considerations

    Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1965)
  • A.J. Fridlund et al.

    The California verbal learning test, scoring and administration software

    (1987)
  • M.S. Goldman

    Cognitive impairment in chronic alcoholics: Some cause for optimism

    American Psychologist

    (1983)
  • R. Goldman et al.

    Experience-dependent cognitive recovery in alcoholics: A task component strategy

    Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1988)
  • A. Guthrie et al.

    The nature and reversibility of cerebral impairment in alcoholism: Treatment implications

    Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1980)
  • R. Kleinknecht et al.

    Neuropsychological deficits associated with alcoholism

    Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol

    (1972)
  • Cited by (0)

    This article is based on a dissertation by the first author under the supervision of the second author and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree at Rutgers University. Portions of this article were presented at the annual meetings of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New York, NY, November, 1988 and Washington, D.C., Nov., 1989.

    The authors would like to express their appreciation to Alan Budney, Karen Cocco, Kathleen Eldredge, Sadi Irvine, Karen Krinsley, Barbara Niles, Mike Sayette, Cathy Stanger, and Lynn Taska for conducting the drink refusal training groups. Our thanks also to James O'Connell and the staff of the Bay Harbor Rehabilitation Program for their support and assitance with this project.

    View full text