Star-Tracing Test during Alcohol Withdrawal, Preliminary Report of a Method

Abstract

We have described the use of the simple laboratory star-tracing test in assessing the course of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Test scores (number of line irregularities) correlated best with clinical estimates of tremulousness (Spearman rho = 0.61) and also correlated with the over-all course of the syndrome as measured by total scores computed from a nurses' clinical rating form. Apart from the basic physiological disturbance, it appears that the other main influence on test scores is variation in emotional disturbance. It is concluded that such a performance measure should be a useful objective adjunct in evaluation of treatment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.