| Abstract: | 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. |
