TREATMENT AND OUTCOME FOR EMPIRICAL SUBTYPES OF ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS

387 alcoholic patients from 5 heterogeneous residential treatment programs were empirically grouped into 4 high- and 4 low-social-competence clusters. Within each social competence category, clusters were differentiated by social-psychological resources (high, medium, and low) and family press to drink. The typology was related to background, intake, and outcome variables. A significant association between types and treatment programs was obtained, but an intensive search for patient-program interaction effects yielded no significant results. There was also no evidence that patient types sought or were assigned differential therapeutic regimens in the 5 programs. Results are discussed in terms of the utility of typologies and the matching and mismatching of patients and programs. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.