The neuropsychological state of the problem drinker

Fifty-seven problem drinkers were administered the Halstead Neuropsychological Test Battery. Half of these were tested cne time after at least 4 months in an outpatient treatment center while the other half was tested once at the beginning of treatment and once more following 2 to 3 months in treatment. Detailed drinking history, and demographic information was obtained for all participants. Results showed a Halstead Impairment Index indicative of brain damage in approximately 50 percent of all problem drinkers tested. As a group the 57 participants performed significantly worse than a normative group of 19l controls on the Category Test, the Tactual Performance Test-Time, the Speech-sounds Perception Test, and the Halstead Impairment Index. These neuropsychological deficits were shown to be the same ones found to exist in chronic alcoholic populations. The group of participants available for retesting after a period of 2 to 3 months in treatment showed significant improvement on 5 out of the l0 neuropsychological measures employed. Certain demographic and drinking history variables were found to be significant predictors of the Halstead Impairment Index. Implications of these results for both the treatment of younger non-alcoholic problem drinkers and future research involving these individuals were discussed.