Developmental level as a predictor of alcoholism treatment response: an attempted replication

Over 12 years ago, a developmental level (DL) cognitive measure derived from the Rorschach was found to be a powerful predictor of alcohol-related outcomes following behaviorally oriented inpatient alcoholism treatment. These findings represent the strongest evidence of a relationship between cognitive functioning and treatment response. The current pilot study attempted to determine whether the large effects previously obtained with the DL measure could be replicated. The Rorschach was administered during the first week of treatment to 20 male alcoholic patients attending 1-month day hospital rehabilitation program. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was administered upon entry into treatment and a follow-up ASI was also administered 7 months after treatment entry. A higher DL was found to be significantly related to less recent drinking and intoxication at baseline as well as to lower alcohol-related problem levels in general. However, all of the relationships between DL and alcohol-related behaviors at follow-up were found to be either small or in a direction opposite to that hypothesized. Some of the reasons for the discrepancy between the findings of the current study and the earlier study are discussed.