Correlation between a psychometric test and biochemical indices of hepaticencephalopathy in alcoholics

Background/Aims: In alcohol abusers an alteration of responses to psychomet ric tests has been reported, even when clinical symptoms of hepatic encepha lopathy (HE) are absent. Our research was intended to individualize a simpl e psychometric test, easy enough to be performed also at the patient's home , able to reveal an impending encephalopathy and, consequently, to facilita te earlier treatment. Methodology: Twenty-six consecutive male alcoholics were engaged and, after informed consent, the following schedule was applied: administration of a psychometric test, followed by a drawing of blood for the determination of many blood parameters. After 15 days of treatment to detoxicate patients, p sychometric tests and blood examinations were repeated. Result: The results confirmed that common blood examinations are not useful to monitor brain damage in chronic alcoholism, that a psychometric test is able to demonstrate a therapeutic improvement and that a positive and sign ificant correlation has been observed between BBCA/AAA ratio and WAIS Score . Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that it is possible to suspe ct dangerous biochemical changes by means of a simple psychometric test.