Factors in the Description and Grouping of Alcoholics
RICHARD C. EVENSON PH.D.1,
HAROLD ALTMAN M.D., M.P.H.2,
IVAN W. SLETTEN M.D.3, , and
RAYMOND R. KNOWLES M.B.B.S., D.P.M.
1 Research Associate, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
2 Clinical Assistant Professor, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
3 Professor, Missouri Institute of Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, 5400 Arsenal St., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
Data collected from 1,023 alcoholic inpatients by means of a self-rating instrument were used to explore the dimensions and subgroupings of alcoholism. Fifteen factors derived from a factor analysis reflected the variety of psychological and social dimensions of the problem. Three subtypes of alcoholism emerged from an inverted (Q) factor analysis. These subtypes were characterized by means of a linear discriminant function analysis. Two subtypes appeared to be related primarily to severity, and the third primarily to sex and marital variables.
