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 ability of participants to cope with interrogative pressure. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1: patients to be tested psychologically on the second or third day of their admission. Group 2: patients 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 completed measurements of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, Mini-Mental State, state and trait anxiety, suggestibility, memory, confabulation and compliance. Significant differences emerged, as predicted, with regard to impaired cognitive abilities and heightened anxiety symptoms, but no differences were found for suggestibility, confabulation and compliance. However, a significantly larger Shift score on the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale was observed on the 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 significantly less able to cope with interrogative pressure. This has practical implications for police interviewing.