MacAndrew MMPI alcoholism scale: alcoholism and drug addictiveness

MMPI Form R answer sheets of 222 successive black and white male inpatients referred for psychological testing in a VA general medical and surgical hospital were scored on the MacAndrew Alcoholism and the Cavior Heroin Addiction Scales. The MacAndrew Scale with 74% accuracy provided a practical screening device for identifying alcoholics. It did not significantly differentiate patients with a history of drug abuse from patients with a history of alcoholism. The Cavior He Scale was not so valid a screening device for identifying drug addicted patients in our total population. Each scale in a special way seems to be measuring a "general addictive propensity."