The correlates of the Weigl Color‐Form Sorting Test in a group of 48 alcoholic inpatients were explored. It was predicted that Weigl performance would be related to conceptual flexibility (Trails B), verbal conceptual ability (Similarities), and symbol substitution (Digit Symbol). It was predicted further that the Weigl would be unrelated to Vocabulary and Trails A. Significant correlation coefficients for the Weigl were obtained with education, Vocabulary, Digit Symbol, and Trails B. However, a stepwise regression analysis disclosed that only Trails B was a significant predictor of Weigl performance.

The research literature shows that, as a result of chronic alcohol abuse, there occur impairments in abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and perceptual-motor functioning. In an earlier study, Tamkin (1983) obtained significant differences between alcoholics and paired neurotic inpatient controls only on abstract reasoning measured on the Weigl Color-Form Sorting Test. Verbal functions and recall of designs showed no group differences. This study sought to replicate the Weigl test results and to examine other types of cognitive impairments in alcoholics relative to published norms. The study subjects were 104 male alcoholics in an alcohol rehabilitation unit. The tests used were the Weigl, Trails A and B, and three subtests of the WAIS. The proportion of impaired Weigl performances was similar to that obtained in 1983, and all the other test scores were significantly poorer than their published norms.