Trail Making Test Performance of Alcoholics Abstinent at Least a Year

Abstract

The Trail Making Test performance of alcoholics who have not consumed any alcohol for at least 1 yr was compared with that of normal control subjects. The Trail Making Test is a 2-part instrument that assesses organic impairment. The present investigation was conducted not only to focus upon the Trail Making Test performance of long-term abstinent alcoholics, but to provide greater perspective to the more general question of permanent psychological deficit in alcoholics. In a comprehensive review of psychological deficits in alcoholics (Tarter), the period of sobriety before testing in the vast majority of the studies cited was less than 2 wk after the gross effects of intoxication had subsided, or else was not specified. It is apparent that the Trail Making Test did not demonstrate any deficit in recovered alcoholics. The present findings have implications beyond those for the performance of alcoholics upon the Trail Making Test. A large percentage of the studies upon psychological deficits in alcoholics may have to be viewed with a different perspective. It certainly cannot be denied that some alcholics, such as those with Korsakoff''s syndrome, have permanent organic impairment. It would probably now be unwarranted to maintain that the typical alcoholic, or those like the subjects in the present study who are functioning in the community and members of Alcoholics Anonymous, definitely have psychological deficits.