Researchers at the University of Missouri have created an Alcohol Induced Blackout Measurement tool as a reliable way to measure and differentiate types of blackouts.
Blackouts are periods of alcohol-induced amnesia, in which the drinker is awake and able to interact with others but often cannot remember the events the following day.
In a study of the new tool, 350 people between the ages of 18 and 29 who had an incident in the past 12 months filled out a survey about at time when they could not remember what happened when they were drinking.
Blackout assessments may be a valuable screening tool in clinical settings by helping to identify individuals at risk for other alcohol related problems.