Variables Associated with Alcoholic Blackouts in Men

Alcoholic blackouts are among the most frequently reported symptoms in the progression of alcoholism. The exact etiology of blackouts remains unknown, but relationships to memory disturbance, seizure disorders, underlying psychiatric conditions, head trauma, and drug use have all been suggested. We studied 72 alcoholics admitted to an alcohol inpatient treatment program. Seventy-five percent of the patients had experienced blackouts. Patients who had had blackouts experienced other alcohol-related symptoms such as a need to drink upon awakening, alcohol cravings, tremors, and hallucinations more frequently and they were more likely to have had a past history of depression and to have been arrested for driving while intoxicated than alcoholics who had never experienced blackouts. No significant differences were observed between patients who had experienced blackouts and those who did not in mild to moderate memory disturbance, seizure disorder, a variety of psychiatric conditions, head trauma, or drug use. No significant differences were found between the two groups in most drinking history variables. The present study does not lend support to most hypotheses made about the etiology of alcoholic blackouts. Blackouts in alcoholics were significantly associated with other symptoms resulting from excessive alcohol use.