Cognitive impairment and other psychological scores derived from the content analysis of speech in detoxified male chronic alcoholics.

Sober chronic alcoholic males, sober nonalcoholic males, and intoxicated nonalcoholic males were assessed along several psychological dimensions by means of the content analysis of speech. Average cognitive impairment scores were significantly greater among intoxicated nonalcoholics than sober chronic alcoholics and significantly greater in sober chronic alcoholics than in sober nonalcoholics. Sober chronic alcoholics, also, had a significantly higher score than sober nonalcoholics on depression, social alienation-personal disorganization (schizoid traits), separation, guilt, and diffuse anxiety, and hostility inward. The general mental health, including cognitive function, of sober chronic alcoholics is clearly impaired when compared to sober nonalcoholic individuals.