Abstract
In recent years a number of investigators have utilized empirical techniques to develop classification schemes for alcohol related problems. This chapter examines this literature, reviewing both dimensional and categorical models that have been proposed. Despite much consistency in the methodologies that have been used, relatively few consistent substantive findings have emerged from these studies. However, increasing sophistication in the use of these empirical techniques over the past decade has produced some interesting results. One such study which yielded a hybrid model for alcoholism incorporating advantages of both categorical and dimensional approaches, is discussed in some detail. Finally, promising directions for future research are outlined with references to the implications of such taxonomy for alcoholism treatment and course.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Hempel CG: Aspects of scientific explanation. New York: Free Press, 1965.
Edwards G, Gross MM: Alcohol dependence: Provisional description of a clinical syndrome. Br Med J 1:1058–1061, 1976.
Jellinek EM: Phases of alcohol addiction. Q J Stud Alcohol 13:673–684, 1952.
Menninger K: The Vital Balance, New York, Viking Press, 1963.
Jellinek EM: The Disease Concept of Alcoholism. New Haven, College and University Press, 1960.
Blashfield RK, Aldendertfer MS: The literature on cluster analysis. Multivariate Behav Res 13:271–295, 1978.
Degerman RL: The geometric representation of some simple structures, in Shepard RN, Romeny, AK, Nerlove SB (eds): Multidimensional Scaling. New York, Seminar Press, Vol. 1, 1971.
Sokal RR, Sneath PHE: Principles of Numerical Taxonomy. San Francisco, Freeman, 1963.
Anderberg MR: Cluster Analysis for Applications. New York, Academic Press, 1973.
Sneath PHE, Sokal TR: Numerical Taxonomy. San Francisco, Freeman, 1973.
Bailey KD: Cluster analysis, in Heise D (ed): Sociological Methodology. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1974.
Clifford JH, Stephenson W: An Introduction to Numerical Classification. New York, Academic Press, 1975.
Hartigan, J: Clustering Algorithms. New York, Wiley, 1975.
Everitt BS: Cluster Analysis, (ed 2). London, Halstead Press, 1980.
Bartko JJ, Strauss JS, Carpenter WJ: An evaluation of taxometric techniques for psychiatric data. Classif Soc Bull 2:2–28, 1971.
Blashfield RK, Morey LC: A comparison of four clustering methods using MMPI Monte Carlo data. Appl Psycholo Measurement 4:57–64, 1980.
Milligan GW: A review of Monte Carlo tests of cluster analysis. Multivariate Behav Res 16:37–407, 1981.
Tryon RC, Bailey DE: Cluster Analysis. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1970.
Button AD: A study of alcoholics with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Q J Stud Alcohol 16:263–281, 1955.
Swenson CH, Davis HC: Types of workhouse inmate alcoholics. Q J Stud Alcohol 20:757–766, 1959.
Goldstein SG, Linden JD: Multivariate classification of alcoholics by MMPI. J Abnorm Psychol 74:661–669, 1969.
Lorr, M: Explorations in Typing Psychotics. New York, Pergamon Press, 1966.
Whitelock PR, Overall JE, Patrick JH: Personality patterns and alcohol abuse in a state hospital population. J Abnorm Psychol 78:9–16, 1981.
Morey LC, Blashfield RK: The empirical classification of alcoholism: A review. J Stud Alcohol 42:925–937, 1981.
Skinner HA: Statistical approaches to the classification of alcohol and drug addiction. Br J Addict 77:259–273, 1982.
Partington JT, Johnson FG: Personality types among alcoholics. Q J Stud Alcohol 30:21–34, 1969.
Lawlis GF, Rubin SE: 16-PF study of personality patterns in alcoholics. Q J Stud Alcohol 32:318–327, 1971.
Whitelock PR, Overall JE, Patrick JH: Personality patterns and alcohol abuse in a state hospital population. J Abnorm Psychol 78:9–16, 1971.
Stein KB, Rozynko V, Pugh LA: The heterogeneity of personality among alcoholics. Br J Soc Clin Psychol 10:253–259, 1971.
Nerviano VJ, Gross WF: A multivariate delineation of two alcoholic profile types on the 16 PF. J Clin Psychol 29:371–374, 1973.
Evenson RC, Altman H, Sletten IW, et al. Factors in the description and grouping of alcoholics. Am J Psychiatry 130:49–54, 1973.
Glen A, Royer FL, Custer R: A study of MMPI-profile types of hospitalized alcoholic veterans. Newslett Res Mental Health Behav Sci 15:53–56, 1973.
Skinner HA, Jackson DN, Hoffman H: Alcoholic personality types: Identification and correlates. J Abnorm Psychol 83:658–666, 1974.
Bean KL, Karasievitch GO: Psychological test results at three stages of inpatient alcoholism treatment. J Stud Alcohol 36:838–852, 1974.
Nerviano VJ: Common personality patterns among alcoholic males: a multivariate study. J Consult Clin Psychol 44:104–110, 1976.
Hetler JH: A critical examination of the adequacy of typological analyses provided by several clustering techniques. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Minnesota, 1976.
Replogle WH, Hair JF, Jr: A multivariate approach to profiling alcoholic typologies. Multivariate Exp Clin Res 3:157–164, 1977.
Warner JS: Personality clusters in MMPI protocols of alcoholics. Ph.D. dissertation, Columbia University, 1977.
Costello RM, Lawlis GF, Manders KR, et al.: Empirical derivation of a partial personality typology of alcoholics. J Stud Alcohol 39:1258–1966, 1978.
Donovan DM, Chaney EF, O’Leary MR: Alcohol MMPI subtypes: Relationship to drinking styles, benefits, and consequences. J Nerv Mental Dis 166:553–561, 1978.
Eshbaugh DM, Tosi DJ, Hoyt C: Some personality patterns and dimensions of male alcoholics: a multivariate description. J Personality Assess 42:409–417.
Finney JW, Moos RH: Treatment and outcome for empirical subtypes of alcoholic patients. J Consult Clin Psychol 47:25–38, 1979.
Steer RA, Fine EW, Scoles PE: Classification of men arrested for driving while intoxicated, and treatment implications: a cluster-analytic study. J Stud Alcohol 40:222–229, 1979.
Hart LS, Stueland D: Relationship of sociodemographic and drinking variables to differentiated subgroups of alcoholics. Community Ment Health J 15:47–57, 1979.
Hart LS, Stueland D: An application of the multidimensional model of alcoholism to program effectiveness: Rehabilitation status and outcome. J Stud Alcohol 40:645–655, 1979.
Hart LS, Stueland D: Classifying women alcoholics by Cattell’s 16 PF: A preliminary investigation of an alcoholic typology. J Stud Alcohol 41:911–921, 1980.
Nerviano VJ, McCarty D, McCarty SM: MMPI profile patterns of men alcoholics in two contrasting settings. J Stud Alcohol 41:1143–1152, 1980.
Eshbaugh DM, Tosi DJ, Hoyt CN: Women alcoholics: A typological description using the MMPI. J Stud Alcohol 41:310–317, 1980.
Sutker PB, Brantley PJ, Allain AN: MMPI response patterns and alcohol consumption of DUI offenders. J Consult Clin Psychol 48:350–355, 1980.
Zivich JM: Alcoholic subtypes and treatment effectiveness. J Consult Clin Psychol 49:72–80, 1981.
Nerviano VJ: Personality patterns of alcoholics revisited: Delineation against the MMPI and clinical implications. Int J Addict 16:723–730, 1981.
O’Leary MR, Donovan DM, Chaney EF, et al.: Relationship of alcoholic personality subtypes of treatment follow-up measures. J Nerv Ment Dis 168:475–480, 1980.
Gibbs LE: A classification of alcoholics relevant to type-specific treatment. Int J Addict 15:461–488, 1980.
Polich JM, Armor, DJ Braiker HB: Patterns of alcoholism over four years. J Stud Alcohol 41:397–416, 1980.
Svanum S, Dallas CL: Alcoholic MMPI types and their relationship to patient characteristics, polydrug abuse, and abstinence following treatment. J Pers Assess 45:278–287, 1981.
Loberg T: MMPI-based personality subtypes of alcoholics. J Stud Alcohol 42:766–782, 1981.
Donovan DM, Marlatt GA: Personality subtypes among driving-while-intoxicated offenders: Relationship to drinking behavior and driving risk. J Consult Clin Psychol 50:241–249, 1982.
Conley JJ, Prioleau LA: Personality typology of men and women alcoholics in relation to etiology and prognosis. J Stud Alcohol 44:996–1010, 1983.
Filstead WJ, Drachman DA, Rossi JJ, et al.: The relationship of MMPI subtype membership to demographic variables and treatment outcome among substance misusers. J Stud Alcohol 44:917–921, 1983.
Conley J: An MMPI typology of male alcoholics: Admission, discharge, and outcome comparisons. J Pers Assess 45:33–39, 1981.
Nerviano V, Gross W: Personality types of alcoholics in objective inventories. J Stud Alcohol 44:837–851, 1983.
Skinner HA, Jackson DN: A model of psychopathology based on the interrelation of MMPI actuarial systems. J Consult Clin Psychol 46:231–238, 1978.
Blashfield RK: Propositions regarding the use of cluster analysis in clinical research. J Consult Clin Psychol 48:456–458, 1980.
Rubington E: The hidden alcoholic. Q J Stud Alcohol 33:667–683, 1972.
Sackin C: Youthful and aged alcohol abusers: Some policy implications. J Alcohol Drug Educ 26:6–75, 1980.
Zimberg S: The elderly alcoholic. Gerontologist 55:221–224, 1974.
Schuckit MA, Miller PL: Alcoholism in elderly men: A survey of a general medical ward. Ann NY Acad Sci 273:558–571, 1975.
Lender ME: Women alcoholics: Prevalence estimates and their problems as referenced in turn of the century institutional data. Int J Addict 16:443–448, 1981.
Morey LC, Skinner HA, Blashfield RK: A typology of alcohol abusers: correlates and implications. J Abnorm Psychol 93:408–417, 1984.
Maisto SA, Sobell LC, Sobell MG: Comparison of alcoholics self-report of drinking behavior with reports of collateral informants. J Consult Clin Psychol 47:106–112, 1979.
Hesselbrock M, Babor TF, Hesselbrock V, et al.: Never believe an alcoholic? On the validity of self-report measures of alcohol dependence and related constructs. Int J Addict 18:593–609, 1983.
Ward JH: Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. J Am Stat Assoc 58:236–244, 1963.
Morey LC, Blashfield RK, Skinner HA: A comparison of cluster analysis techniques within a sequential validation framework. Multivariate Behav Res 18:309–329, 1983.
Blashfield RK, Aldenderfer MA, Morey LC: Validating a cluster analytic solution, in Hudson H (ed): Classifying Social Data. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1982.
Gorsuch RL: Factor Analysis. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1974.
Nerviano VJ: Common personality patterns among alcoholic males: a multivariate study. J Consult Clin Psychol 44:104–110, 1976.
Hart L: Rehabilitation need patterns of men alcoholics. J Stud Alcohol 38:504–511, 1977.
Foster FM, Horn JL, Wanberg KW: Dimensions of treatment outcome. Q J Stud Alcohol 33:1079–1098, 1972.
Horn JL, Wanberg KW: Symptom patterns related to excessive use of alcohol. Q J Stud Alcohol 30:35–58, 1969.
Wanberg KW, Horn JL, Foster FM: A differential assessment model for alcoholism: The scales of the alcohol use inventory. J Stud Alcohol 38:512–543, 1977.
Wanberg KW, Horn JL: Assessment of alcohol use with multidimensional concepts and measures. Am Psychol 38:1055–1069, 1983.
Skinner HA: A model of psychopathology based on the MMPI, in Newmark CS (ed): MMPI: Current Clinical and Research Trends. New York, Praeger Publishing, 1979.
Skinner HA: Models for the description of abnormal behavior, in Adams H, Sutker P (eds): Comprehensive Handbook of Psychopathology. New York, Plenum, 1984.
Kammeier ML, Hoffman H, Lopez RG: Personality characteristics of alcoholism as college freshmen and at time of treatment. Q J Stud Alcohol 34:390–399, 1973.
Horn JL, Wanberg KW, Foster FM: The alcohol use inventory—AUI. Denver, Center for Alcohol Abuse Research and Evaluation, 1977.
Horn JL, Wanberg KW, Appel M: On the internal structure of the MMPI. Multivariate Behav Res 8:131–171, 1973.
Skinner HA, Allen BA: Differential assessment of alcoholism: Evaluation of the alcohol use inventory. J Stud Alcohol 44:852–862, 1983.
Skinner HA: Primary syndromes of alcohol abuse: Their measurement and correlates. Br J Addict 76:63–76, 1981.
Skinner HA, Allen BA: Alcohol dependence syndrome: Measurement and validation. J Abnorm Psychol 91:199–209, 1982.
Skinner HA: Dimensions and clusters: A hybrid approach to classification. Appl Psychol Measurements 3:327–341, 1979.
Jackson DN: Personality Research Form Manual. Goshen, New York, Research Psychologists Press, 1974.
Sobell MB, Sobell LC: Controlled drinking: A concept coming of age, in Blumstein KR, Polivy J (eds): Self-Control and Self-Modification of Emotional Behavior. New York, Plenum, 1982.
Miller WR, Caddy GR: Abstinence and controlled drinking in the treatment of problem drinkers. J Stud Alcohol 38:986–1003, 1977.
Mulford HA: Stages in the alcoholism process: Toward a cumulative, nonsequential index. J Stud Alcohol 38:563–583, 1977.
Oxford J, Oppenheimer E, Edwards G: Abstinence or control: The outcome for excessive drinkers two years after consultation. Behav Res Ther 14:409–418, 1976.
Sanchez-Craig M: Random assignment to abstinence and controlled drinking in a cognitive behavioral program. Addict Behav 5:35–39, 1980.
Osborne AC, Glaser FB: Characteristics of affiliates of Alcoholics Anonymous. J Stud Alcohol 42:661–675, 1981.
Glaser FB: Anybody got a match? Treatment and the matching hypothesis, in Edwards G, Grant M (eds): Alcoholism Treatment in Transition. London, Crown Helm, 1980.
Meyer RE, Babor TF, Mirkin PM: Typologies in alcoholism: An overview. Int J Addict 18:235–249, 1983.
Skinner HA, Blashfield RK: Increasing the impact of cluster analysis research: The case of psychiatric classification. J Consult Clin Psychol 50:727–735, 1982.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Morey, L.C., Skinner, H.A. (1986). Empirically Derived Classifications of Alcohol-Related Problems. In: Galanter, M., et al. Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1695-2_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1695-2_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1697-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1695-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive