The effects of piracetam on psychometric performance in chronic alcoholics

A randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover design was employed in assessing the effects of piracetam treatment on the functional capacities of abstinent chronic alcoholics. A sample of 63 subjects, selected for reliability (to counteract an anticipated high drop-out rate) and for a minimum period of abstinence from problem drinking of three months was drawn from the William Slater Hospital, Rondebosch and commenced the trial. The trial consisted of two 8-week periods, with daily dosages of 4,8gm of piracetam or placebo. Subjects were assessed on a psychometric battery yielding a total of 31 scores at baseline, crossover (8 weeks) and trial termination (16 weeks). The final sample size was 48 after drop-outs and noncompliance had been taken into account. Scoring of test data for these subjects was completed before breaking protocols. Results were analysed by means, of two way analysis of variance with repeated measures on the trials variable. Only two of the 31 analyses yielded significant differences between piracetam and the placebo. These yielded opposed results, and as this number of significant results could be expected due to chance alone, it was concluded that they were probably chance results and that no differences existed between the effects of piracetam and placebo on the functional capacities of chronic alcoholics.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

1984

Author dc:creator

• Price, Anthony Edward

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Du Preez, Peter

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17021

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17021