Cross-study comparisons of self-reported alcohol consumption in four clinical groups.

Clinical research on the chronic effects of alcohol has been difficult to evaluate and compare because of the failure by investigators to quantify self-reported alcohol consumption. The authors describe four diverse groups of patients who were treated for alcohol and/or drug abuse. After devising a procedure for comparing the data from these studies, they found that patient self-reports of alcohol consumption may be less distorted than commonly assumed. The present findings are consistent with current research indicating that self-reports of alcohol use are reliable and clinically consistent. The authors also discuss the relationship between neuropsychological impairment and measures of alcohol and drug abuse.