Fifty‐four alcoholics and 30 nonalcoholics were tested on Russell's (1975) revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale (RWMS). Subjects were dichotomized into groups of old and young, and alcoholics were divided further into groups of short‐ and long‐term abusers. Groups were matched on socioeconomic status. Significant group differences were found on three of the four RWMS measures as a function of abuse status and on two of the measures as a function of age. In terms of severity of impairment, alcoholics were found to demonstrate only mild verbal and figural memory deficits when compared to age‐matched controls. Results are discussed with regard to the clinical utility of the RWMS as a memory screening instrument with alcoholic patients and in terms of treatment implications.
A vigilance/continuous performance test was designed to be used for the serial testing of patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis therapy. Correct detections, false alarms, and reaction time provided measures of an attentional deficit. A matched sample of 28 patients and 28 controls composed of nondialysands were tested. No significant differences were found between groups in correct detections and false alarms. Reaction time discriminated younger and older subjects and also dialysands and controls. The clinical usage of the test is questioned because patients resist taking the test on a serial basis every 2 wk. Motivational factors or lack of willingness to be compliant outweighed technical accomplishments.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.