Treatment termination variables, MMPI scores and frequencies of relapse in alcoholics.

Abstract

The MMPI [Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory] was administered to 111 alcoholics (men, mean age 42.5) admitted to a state psychiatric hospital. When tested, all the patients were detoxified and had entered a 6-8 wk rehabilitation program offering Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, individual, group, family, disulfiram and vocational therapy. as appropriate. All the patients still in treatment completed the MMPI again just before discharge. The patients were classified as follows: group I (N = 49) completed treatment without problems; group II (N = 27) stayed in treatment at least 6 wk or completed the 8 wk but had some drinking episodes or disciplinary problems; group III (N = 35) dropped out before 6 wk. Pre- and posttreatment MMPI scores on the 3 regular validity scales, 10 clinical scales, and 10 special scales [Es (ego strength), Mt (maladjustment), A (1st factor: emotional distress), R (2nd factor: tendency toward repression), Dy (dependency), Do (dominance), Re (responsibility), St (social status), At (manifest anxiety) and SoR (social desirability)] revealed no significant differences between the 3 groups on any individual scale. Posttreatment profiles of groups I and II showed the highest elevation on the PD (psychopathic deviate) and Sc (schizophrenic) scales; and on the subscales there was a significant pre- and posttreatment group difference only on the St scale (group I decreased in mean score, group II increased, P < .05). After 18 mo., 31% of group I, 63% of group II and 66% of group III had been readmitted for detoxication (the differences between groups I and II and I and III were significant, P < .05 and P < .01).