Investigation of alcohol use disorders in a group of driving-while-intoxicated offenders

This preliminary study was carried out to investigate alcohol use disorders and personality profiles in a group of driving-while-intoxicated offenders. Thirty nine volunteer offenders were assessed by CAGE, while 21 of them were assessed by SCID-I Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders module and 14 drivers completed MMPI test. According to CAGE scores, 11 was found to have an indication of alcohol problem and 7 had clinically significant alcohol use disorder. Within 21 drivers, 4 had a DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol abuse. Independent of their diagnosis, MMPI profiles revealed the psychopathic personality characteristics which might explain drinking while driving as a risky behaviour in this group. These results suggest that, besides legal applications, referring offenders to associated centers, in order to be evaluated and informed about alcohol use disorders, would be an important step in the prevention of recurrent alcohol impaired driving as well as alcohol related incidents.