KORSAKOFFS SYNDROME, COGNITION AND CLONIDINE

Eighteen patients suffering from Alcoholic Korsakoff's Syndrome partic ipated in a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over trial of clonid ine 0.3 mg b.d. for two weeks versus matched placebo for two weeks. A detailed neuropsychological assessment was carried out at the end of e ach treatment phase and staff ratings of behaviour were also obtained. Clonidine treatment resulted in no significant improvement over place bo on any of the cognitive measures employed. The results contradict p revious smaller studies which had suggested that chronic treatment wit h clonidine had a memory-enhancing effect in Korsakoff's syndrome.