Are the binary typology models of alcoholism valid in polydrug abusers ?

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the dichotomy of type I/II and type A/B alcoholism typologies in opiatedependent patients with a comorbid alcohol dependence problem (ODP-AP). Methods: The validity assessment process comprised the information regarding the history of alcohol use (internal validity), cognitive-behavioral variables regarding substance use (external validity), and indicators of treatment during 6-month follow-up (predictive validity). Results: ODP-AP subjects classified as type II/B presented an early and much more severe drinking problem and a worse clinical prognosis when considering opiate treatment variables as compared with ODP-AP subjects defined as type I/A. Furthermore, type II/B patients endorse more general positive beliefs and expectancies related to the effect of alcohol and tend to drink heavily across several intraand interpersonal situations as compared with type I/A patients. Conclusions: These findings confirm two different forms of alcohol dependence, recognized as a low-severity/vulnerability subgroup and a high-severity/vulnerability subgroup, in an opiate-dependent population with a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol dependence.

A possible contribution to improving the therapeutic potentials of Babor's Typology of Alcohol Dependent Patients

“…Despite the many similarities between typologies developed up to date, they have not yet fulfilled criteria for an ideal classification 9,10 . Two well recognized typologies of alcoholism are those established by Cloninger and Babor [11][12][13] : both indicate binary models of alcoholism and are still widely use in clinical and research settings 14 …”

Προσδιορισμός της μεταβολής των κυτταροκινών IL-7, IL-10 και GCSF (Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor) σε ασθενείς εξαρτημένους από την αλκοόλη χωρίς ηπατική ανεπάρκεια, κατά τη διάρκεια της θεραπείας απεξάρτησης

“…Στην προσπάθεια κατανόησης της εξάρτησης και της κατάχρησης αλκοόλ αναζητήθηκαν διάφορες ταξινομήσεις για τους συγκεκριμένους ασθενείς. Οι υπότυποι [123][124][125]…”