A Study on the Types of Alcohol Dependence by Alcohol Use Inventory and Their Characteristics

Lee, Duk Ki; Shin, Jin Kyu; Chung, Young In

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to classify the type of individuals with alcohol dependence, and to examine its clinical characteristics through cluster analysis.
METHODS
180 inpatients with alcohol dependence were examed with AUI, MAST, ADS, and MCMI. The classification of alcohol dependence was done through the cluster analysis.
RESULTS
1) Patients with alcohol dependence could be classified into three types. Type 1 of alcohol dependence was the severest in terms of physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, alcohol-related problems, and loss of control, and was characterized by isolated drinking and binge drinking. Type 2 of alcohol dependence was mainly drinking on account of personal relationships, and is characterized by continuous drinking. Type 3 of alcohol dependence is relatively the mildest type, which led to withdrawal symptoms and complications. 2) There is no difference in age, educational level, marital status, occupation, family history of alcoholism among three types. 3) As a result of comparative analysis of age at the first hospitalization by drinking, physical and psychological dependence on alcohol, complications by drinking, amount of drinking, and frequency of drinking, the age at the first hospitalization by drinking showed statistically significant difference between type 1 and type 2 or type 3. 4) There was a significant difference in anti-social personality trait, borderline personality trait, and obsessive-compulsive personality trait, and drug abuse tendency between type 3 and type 1 or type 2. There was a significant difference in the degree of depression between type 1 and type 3; there was no difference in the degree of anxiety among three types.
CONCLUSION
It is possible to classify alcohol dependence into three types by means of AUI in Korea, and each type should require specific models of therapeutic strategies and approaches in accordance with its clinical characteristics.