Neuropsychological test results are related to ratings of men alcoholics' therapeutic progress: a replicated study.

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Abstract
The relationship of tests of neuropsychological functioning to clinical ratings of participation in therapeutic activities and predictions of outcome were investigated in 2 groups of men alcoholics. Factor analysis of the clinical ratings confirmed the existence of 3 factors: cognitive, clinical improvement and interpersonal. Significant relationships were found in the 1st group of alcoholics (N = 52) between neuropsychological test scores and scores on each of the 3 factors. These findings were replicated in the 2nd group of alcoholics (N = 28) drawn from the same population. Patients rated by therapists as having a poor prognosis performed significantly worse on certain neuropsychological tests, especially measures of abstracting and problem solving, than patients rated as having a good prognosis. Apparently, neuropsychological tests are sensitive to many of the same dimensions assessed by clinicians in evaluating therapeutic progress.