The Windsor Clinic Alcohol Withdrawal Assessment Scale (WCAWAS): investigation of factors associated with complicated withdrawals.

A new scale for measuring the severity of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome has been developed. The Windsor Clinic Alcohol Withdrawal Assessment Scale (WCAWAS) has more objective criteria than its parent scales and has high inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity. This article describes the development of the WCAWAS and its use in an investigation of which factors were associated with complicated withdrawals in 142 consecutive patients admitted for detoxification. Multivariate analyses showed that drinking behaviour variables and MCV were successful at predicting complicated withdrawals. The WCAWAS was not successful at predicting which patients developed convulsions. Further studies are required to see if the WCAWAS is more successful at predicting which patients will develop visual hallucinations. The WCAWAS is useful as a teaching aid and in following the clinical course of patients and their response to treatment.