Adaptive Abilities and Intellectual Functioning in Hospitalized Alcoholics

Abstract

A comparison was made of adaptive abilities and intellectual functioning in hospitalized alcoholic subjects and groups of non-alcoholic subjects with and without organic brain damage. Subjects from each group were matched in triads for education, race, age, and handedness. Seventeen subjects composed each group. Measurements were made with the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale (Form I), the Trail Making Test, and 7 Halstead neuropsychological measures. Results indicated that the alcoholic group was similar to the control group on standard intelligence measures whereas the brain-damaged group performed somewhat more poorly. In contrast, the alcoholics performed less well on the tests sensitive to the organic condition of the brain than did controls, approaching the impaired level of performance shown by the brain-damaged group. These results suggest that general intelligence measures may provide misleading notions regarding capabilities of some alcoholic patients, allowing planning and expectations to be unrealistic and frustrating to individuals whose adaptive abilities may be markedly impaired.