The association of alcoholic subtype with treatment outcome: an 18-month follow-up

The present paper reports upon the association between alcoholic subtype and treatment response. The subjects participated in an inpatient alcohol treatment program at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Administration Medical Center. Following discharge, the subjects were contacted at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months to evaluate current drinking status and psychosocial outcome. Results indicate that drinking outcome is only moderately associated with alcoholic subtype. However, psychosocial outcome is consistently related to the subtypes. Specifically, Type III (chronic-organic) and Type V (bright-unrealistic) alcoholics do poorly while Type II (impulsive) report few problems. The need to develop better "fits" of treatment and alcoholic is discussed, as are possible adjunctive treatments for the typology presented.