A multi-test alcoholic taxonomy: Canonical coefficient clusters

Abstract

Little convergence has been found in the area of subtyping alcoholic per sonalities. Prior work has suffered from the use of single inventories, inventories with large distress factors, or inventories that lack broad theoretical appeal. The present work (N = 89) transcends idiosyncratic cluster solutions through the use of canonical correlation of the Basic Personality Inventory and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. The resulting global canonical variates are cluster analyzed to a six‐cluster solution. These subtypes are described through their scores on the canonical variates and the underlying psychometric inventories.

Substance Abuse Problems, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Post-Treatment Status in MCMI Psychopathology Subgroups of Cocaine Dependent Males

“…Indeed, the presence of MCMI identified antisocial personality has been linked to biologically verified unfavorable treatment response among opiate addicts during short-term outpatient treatment (8). Consistent with previous literature (8,9,13,14), membership in the "subclinical" group (Cluster 2) in this investigation was associated with fewer psychiatric, family, and drug problems at treatment entry in comparison with several other cluster subgroups and with a comparatively high rate of nonrelapse (46%) in the year after treatment completion. Notably, this high-performing group was the smallest cluster subgroup among the four, constituting roughly 13% of the total sample.…”

“…In contrast, those in the Subclinical group revealed a comparatively much higher rate of non-relapse (46%) and a substantially lower rate of loss to follow-up (18%) (see Table 3). (6,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Membership in the antisocial cluster subgroup was not associated with elevated levels of substance abuse related problems at intake or with significantly low post-treatment abstinence rates in the current study.…”

“…One useful approach has been to cluster analyze MCMI records in various groups of substance abusers. Such efforts have often identified four clinically coherent subgroups: high psychopathology, antisocial, neurotic, and subclinical (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). A high psychopathology subgroup has been found to be associated with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, greater depression, more suicide attempts, more previous psychiatric and drug treatments, and drug treatment nonresponse (8).…”

Substance abuse problems, psychiatric severity, and HIV risk in Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II personality subgroups.

“…The cluster-analysis-derived MCMI-II subgroups in this investigation were similar to high pathology, antisocial, and subclinical subgroups identified in previous studies of substance abusers (Donat et al, 1991;Corbisiero & Reznikoff, 1991;Matano et al, 1994;Bartsch & Hoffman, 1985;Craig & Olson, 1990;Retzlaff & Bromley, 1991). In this investigation, a high pathology subgroup was defined in which highly This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

Assessing alcoholics with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory: A review.

“…1991, Craig et al, 1985. Donat, Walters, & Hume, 1991, Retzlaff & Bromley, 1991). These conceptually distinct personality types are quite similar to previous reports in the literature using other personality assessment instruments (Conley, 1981, Nerviano & Gross, 1983) and are associated with different styles and patterns of problematic drinking (Donat et al, 1991) Continued investigation into the accurate classification of alcoholic subtypes is warranted, because it has implications for more exact diagnosis and treatment of alcoholic patients.…”