The indigent alcoholic: personality and psychopathology.
Emotional disorder in a population of indigent detoxified alcoholics from a reception center was assessed by the MMPI and a drinking pattern survey. On the average, these alcoholics had a much greater degree of psychopathology, as measured by various criteria, than found in most other studies. However, a cluster analysis revealed that the population was not homogeneous for psychopathology. The cross-validated clusters yielded three types: I. Severe Emotional Disturbance had extreme elevations on the psychotic and psychopathic deviate scales, and accounted for 28% of the population; II. Impulsive-Antisocial subjects were moderately elevated on psychopathic deviate and depression scales, constituting 26% of population; and III. Little Evidence of Severe Emotional Disturbance had a pattern similar to II but with only one scale somewhat elevated, accounting for 46%. The distinctly different personality patterns of the grouping of indigent alcoholics indicate the need for different treatment strategies.
Hinkin
C H
CH
Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
Kahn
M W
MW
Connelly
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008489:Medical Indigency; D011594:Psychometrics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology