This study investigated empirical clusters of MMPI scale T scores for 186 men and 112 women involuntarily committed to a chemical dependency unit of a state psychiatric hospital. Ward's method of cluster analysis produced six clusters which were similar to those reported in other cluster-analytic studies of alcoholics but with a prominent increase in Scale 6 elevations. Average profiles for the six clusters were Spike 6, 6-2-8-4, within normal limits (Clusters 3 and 4), and 2-6-8-3-4-1-9. Results are discussed in terms of treatment planning for this population.
References
1.
ConleyJ. J. (1981) An MMPI typology of male alcoholics: admission, discharge, and outcome comparisons. Journal of Personality Assessment, 45, 33–39.
2.
GoldsteinS. G., & LindenJ. D. (1969) Multivariate classification of alcoholics by means of the MMPI. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 74, 661–669.
3.
GreeneR. L., & GarvinR. D. (1988) Substance abuse/dependence. In GreeneR. L. (Ed.), The MMPI: use with specific populations.Philadelphia, PA: Grune & Stratton. Pp. 159–197.
4.
MoreyL. C., & BlashfieldR. K. (1981) Empirical classifications of alcoholism: a review. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 42, 925–937.
5.
MoreyL. C., RobertsW. R., & PenkW. (1987) MMPI alcoholic subtypes: replicability and validity of the 2-8-7-4 subtype. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 96, 164–166.
6.
NervianoV. J., & GrossH. W. (1983) Personality types of alcoholics on objective inventories: a review. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 44, 837–851.
7.
SAS Institute, Inc. (1988) SAS user's guide: statistics.Cary, NC: Author.
8.
SheppardD., SmithG. T., & RosenbaumG. (1988) Use of MMPI subtypes in predicting completion of a residential alcoholism treatment program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 590–596.
9.
WilliamsJ. G., HallJ. E., & O'HaraM. B. (1991) Treatment effects of separate commitment laws for mental illness and chemical dependency. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 42, 420–422.