REVERSIBILITY OF BRAIN-STEM EVOKED-POTENTIAL ABNORMALITIES IN ABSTINENT CHRONIC-ALCOHOLICS - ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were studied in 34 chron ic alcoholics who had been abstinent for 1 year, and in age- and sex-m atched control subjects. The patients were examined 3 times, at 1 mont h, 5 months and 1 year after the start of the abstinence treatment. At 1 month of abstinence the alcoholics showed differences with respect to controls in the peak V latency (P < 0.01), and in the III-V (P < 0. 01) and I-V (P < 0.01) intervals. After 1 year of abstinence a signifi cant improvement in the V (P < 0.01), III-V (P < 0.01) and I-V (P < 0. 01) parameters was recorded. The most notable development was in the 5 -12 month period, with shortening in V latency (P < 0.01) and in the I -V interval (P < 0.01); in the first 5 months there was only shortenin g in the III-V interval (P < 0.01). This improvement was also indicate d by a decrease in the number of patients with BAEP parameter abnormal ities. The recovery of the functions impaired by chronic alcohol consu mption after 1 year of abstinence was incomplete, although the tendenc y was towards normalization.