Citation

Sutton LR. Blutalkohol 1994; 31(1): 33-39.

Affiliation

Institute for Driver Research, Pittsburgh, PA 15234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8142087

Abstract

This paper focuses on the psychological make-up or profile of the first time "apprehended" Driving Under the Influence offenders from the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The profiles are compiled using a variety of psychological tests assessing issues of: Alcohol Dependence, Major Depression, Personality deviance, alcohol induced Organicity and severe Psychiatric impairment (symptoms of schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorders). 91% of the alcohol impaired drivers complained of at least some acute symptoms of depression. However, in total 38% of the sample showed significant signs of a clinical psychiatric syndrome (one requiring intervention or treatment) in addition to alcohol dependence. The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test and the MacAndrews Alcoholism Test proved to be a useful combination in defining alcohol dependence.