Multidimensional subtypes and treatment outcome in first-time dwi offenders

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 167 - 181
• Main Authors: Ball, Samuel A, Jaffe, Adam J, Crouse-Artus, Melinda S, Rounsaville, Bruce J, O'Malley, Stephanie S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2000; New York, NY Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol Drinking - legislation & jurisprudence; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - classification; Alcoholism - psychology; Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Alcoholism subtypes; Automobile Driving - legislation & jurisprudence; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Drunk driving; DWI typology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Patient Care Planning; Patient Selection; Personality Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapy, Group; Risk Factors; Treatment matching; Treatment Outcome; Type A/B; Alcoholism subtypes; Treatment matching; DWI typology; Type A/B; Human; Consumption; Alcoholic beverage; Prognosis; Treatment; Vehicle driving; Inebriation; Adult; Typology; Subtype
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-4603(99)00053-2

The concurrent and predictive validity of Type A and B alcoholism subtypes was evaluated in 246 first-time driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders. K-means analysis indicated that a two-cluster solution was optimal with Type Bs (28%) exhibiting greater premorbid risk factors, alcohol and psychosocial severity, drinking consequences, psychopathology, higher stage of change, and less coping confidence in comparison to less severe Type As (72%). After baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to one of three 10-week group treatments (DWI Education, Coping Skills, Interactional), and reassessed at termination, and at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Type B was associated with more severe symptoms after treatment, but there was no evidence for patient-treatment matching effects. Although Type A/B may be an important theoretical model for guiding alcoholism research, it usefulness and efficiency for treatment matching, planning, or placement purposes is questioned.