Personality pattern in first-time-admitted alcoholics

Abstract

First-time-admitted (n == 90) alcoholics in an outpatient clinic completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) as part of the initial evaluation. Many patients had one of two personality disorders: the passive-aggressive (59.5% or dependent personality disorder (56.8% Alcohol abuse for more than 5 years was related to high-scores on the following scales: Anxiety, somatoform, hypomanic, dysthymia, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse. The alcohol abuse scale was the only scale to show discriminate validity when compared with norms of the American Standardization. High scores on the passive-aggressive scale was shown to be predictive of an early dropout of treatment. A high proportion of respondents showed invalid MCMI scores (17.7% a finding correlated to comorbid intellectual impairment, concurrent treatment with the benzodiazepines, the length of time the patients spent in completing the test, and the length of time since abstinence. The MCMI seemed to be a valid and useful instrument in evaluation and treatment planning of alcoholics in an outpatient setting. © 1992 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.