Predicting Treatment Outcome on the Basis of Temperament in Patients Who Are Socially Stable and Alcohol Dependent

ABSTRACT

The literature on predictors of treatment outcome is relatively extensive, but results on personality factors that predicts treatment outcome among alcohol dependent patients are still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate if the scales of the Temperament and Character Inventory could predict treatment outcome after 18 months in a sample of patients who were socially well adjusted and alcohol dependent (N = 202). Bivariate comparisons indicate that patients with higher levels of harm avoidance showed a lower probability of successful treatment. Further, exploratory analysis of specific configurations associated with treatment success or failure was presented. The results indicate that harm avoidance seem to be a key factor for this specific sample of patients who are socially well adjusted and alcohol dependent, results that might be useful in clinical practice.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol use disorders
• longitudinal
• treatment outcome
• personality