Alcohol use among persons with traumatic brain injury

The General Health and History Questionnaire, the Quantlty–Frequency-VariabllUy Index, and the Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test were used to Investigate the preinjury and postinjury drinking patterns of 87 persons with traumatic brain Injury 031). Compared to other persons of similar age, a slightly higher proportion of persons with TBI were abstinent preinjury, but a significantly greater proportion fell within the heavy drinker classification. After Injury, drinking rates for the sample declined, and there were fewer heavy drinkers In the group with TBI than In uninjured comparison groups composed of the population at large and of drinkers of similar age. Nevertheless, the number of postinjury problem drinkers was relatively large in consideration of the potentially adverse effects on long–term outcome.