Field Dependence or Cognitive Impairment in Alcoholics

Abstract

The nature of the association of field dependence with alcoholism has been predominantly postulated as predispositional in most studies, but as consequential in others. Using the EFT measure and additional measures of cognitive impairment, a significant decrease in both field dependence and cognitive impairments was found to occur within a 3-week period of treatment for alcoholism. Significant moderate-level correlations between field dependence and cognitive measures support an interpretation of the alcohol-field dependence association as being mediated by alcohol-induced cognitive impairment. Methodological differences and differences in measurement instruments may account for the conflicting findings. These results support the hypothesis that field dependence in alcoholics is a consequence of cognitive impairment resulting from alcoholism.