Summary
Sixty-seven abstinent alcoholics were examined two weeks after admission by electroencephalography and psychometry. Fifty-two returned for retesting one month after withdrawal, twenty-three at two months and thirteen at six months. Over half showed some E.E.G. abnormality at first testing, paroxysmal disturbances being the predominant finding. There was a positive relationship between abnormality in the E.E.G. and severity of psychometric impairment at each assessment. Psychometric improvement was not related to initial E.E.G. findings.
A possible relationship between E.E.G. abnormality and clinical malnutrition and folate deficiency was demonstrated. In the serial studies some reversal of E.E.G. abnormality occurred between the first and second tracing which also appeared to be related to malnutrition.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Arentsen, K., and Sindrup, E., 1963. Electroencephalographic invesgitation of Alcoholics. Acta psychiat. Scand. 39: 371–383
Begleiter, H., and Platz, A., 1972. The Effects of Alcohol on the Central Nervous System in Hiomans. The Biology of Alcoholism, Vol 2. Physiology and Behaviour. Ed. by B. Kissin and H. Begleiter. Plenum Press,.
Bennett, A.E., Doi, L.T., and Mowery, G.L., 1956. The Value of Electroencephalography in Alcoholism, J. Nerv, and Ment. Dis. 124: 27–32.
Bennett, A.E., 1960. Diagnosis of Intermediate Stage of Alcoholic Brain Disease. J.A.M.A. 172: 1143–1146
Brewer, C., and Perrett, L., 1971 Brain damage due to alcohol consumption: An air-encephalographic, psychometric and electroencephalographic Study. Br. J. Addict. 66: 170–182.
Buchtal, F., and Lennox, M., 1953- The E.E.G. effect of Metrazol and photic stimulation in 682 normal subjects. Electroenceph. din. Neurophysiol. 5: 545–558.
Clark, J., and Haughton, H., 1975- A study of intellectual impairment and recovery rates in heavy drinkers in Ireland. Brit. J. Psych. 126: 178–184.
Courville, C.B., 1955 Effects of alcohol on the nervous system of man., Los Angeles. San Lucas.
Funkhäuser, J.B., Nagler, B., and Walke, N.D., 1953- The electroencephalography of chronic alcoholism. Southern Medical Journal. 46: 423–428
Greenblatt, M., 1944. The electroencephalogram associated with chronic alcoholism, alcoholic psychosis and alcoholic convulsions. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 52: 290–295.
Guthrie, A., and Elliott, W.A., 1977- The nature and reversibility of cerebral impairment in alcoholism: treatment implications. Paper presented at N.A.T.O. International Conference: Experimental and Behavioural Approaches to Alcoholism. Bergen, Norway.
Little, S.C., and McAvoy, M., 1952. Electroencephalographic findings in chronic alcoholism. Electroenceph. din. Neurophysiol. 4: 245–246.
Schau, E.J., and O’Leary, M., 1977 Personal Communication. In Press.
White, W.P., 1965 Personality and cognitive learning among alcoholics with different intervals of sobriety. Psychological Report Vol. 16: 1125–1140.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1980 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fleming, A.M.M., Guthrie, A. (1980). The Electroencephalogram, Psychological Testing, And other Investigations in Abstinent Alcoholics: a Longitudinal Study. In: Begleiter, H. (eds) Biological Effects of Alcohol. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 126. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3632-7_55
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3632-7_55
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3634-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3632-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive