The Indigent Alcoholic: Personality and Psychopathology

Abstract

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.