Can Personality Tests Predict Treatment Dropouts?

Abstract

Patients who completed a detoxification/rehabilitation drug abuse program were compared with program dropouts on a new personality instrument, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. No differences were found between groups on any of the 20 comparison variables, replicating previous results with the MMPI. Data are presented showing that discriminant function predictors lose their potency within 3 years and maybe sooner. It is concluded that clinical judgments must form the basis of predicting dropouts until it can be demonstrated that personality tests can make reliable predictions on treatment dropouts.