The effects of alcohol withdrawal on memory, confabulation, and suggestibility

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alcohol withdrawal on the accuracy of information obtained during an interview, and in the abi lity of participants to cope with interrogative pressure. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1: patients to be tested psy chologically on the second or third day of their admission. Group 2: patien ts who were to be assessed towards the end of their 10-day stay in hospital (i.e. after 6 or more days). The participants were a group of 75 patients admitted as inpatients to a detoxification centre in Iceland. They complete d measurements of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, Mini-Mental State, state and trait anxiety, suggestibility, memory, confabulation and compliance. Signi ficant differences emerged, as predicted, with regard to impaired cognitive abilities and heightened anxiety symptoms, but no differences were found f or suggestibility, confabulation and compliance. However, a significantly l arger Shift score on the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale was observed on th e third day as an in-patient, as compared with that obtained on the second day of admission and for patients in Group 2. The main conclusion from the study is that, on the third day of detoxification, patients become signific antly less able to cope with interrogative pressure. This has practical imp lications for police interviewing.