THE WINDSOR CLINIC ALCOHOL-WITHDRAWAL ASSESSMENT SCALE (WCAWAS) - INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLICATED WITHDRAWALS

A new scale for measuring the severity of the alcohol withdrawal syndr ome has been developed. The Windsor Clinic Alcohol Withdrawal Assessme nt Scale (WCAWAS) has more objective criteria than its parent scales a nd has high inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity. This arti cle describes the development of the WCAWAS and its use in an investig ation of which factors were associated with complicated withdrawals in 142 consecutive patients admitted for detoxification. Multivariate an alyses showed that drinking behaviour variables and MCV were successfu l at predicting complicated withdrawals. The WCAWAS was not successful at predicting which patients developed convulsions. Further studies a re required to see if the WCAWAS is more successful at predicting whic h patients will develop visual hallucinations. The WCAWAS is useful as a teaching aid and in following the clinical course of patients and t heir response to treatment.