Statistical Classification of Alcohol Dependence by MMPI

Namkoong, Kee; Cho, Hyun Sang; Kim, Byoung Chun; Hyun, Myoung Ho; Ahn, Hye Ry; Lee, Hee Sang; Yoo, Kae Joon

Abstract

OBJECTS AND METHODS: The authors tried to classify 75 male patients with alcohol dependence by using cluster analysis of their MMFI data, to Identify the characteristics of each subtype classified through that process and to evaluate the discriminant validity of the classification.
RESULTS
The subjects were divided into 3 subtypes by K-means cluster analysis of MMPI scores: a psychotic subtype of 6(Fa)-7(Ft)-8(Sc) profile(21.4%), a neurotic subtype of 2(D)-3(Hy)-1(Hs) profile(49.3%), a normal subtype(29.3%). But, there were no statistically significant differences of age, educational level, marital status, admission history due to alcoholic problems, number of drinking day per week, average amount of ethanol consumed per drinking occasion, age at onset of drinking and family history of alcoholism among these three subtypes.
CONCLUSION
It seems that the subjects with alcohol dependence could be classified into three subtypes with statistical significance, but this statistical classification does not constitute any evidence of discriminant validity.