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Multivariate Typology of Adolescents With Alcohol Use Disorder
Author(s) -
Tarter Ralph E.,
Kirisci Levent,
Mezzich Ada
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.1997.tb00564.x
Subject(s) - typology , psychopathology , conduct disorder , clinical psychology , psychology , alcohol use disorder , psychiatry , psychological intervention , population , medicine , alcohol , biochemistry , chemistry , environmental health , archaeology , history
Adolescent patients qualifying for a DSM‐III‐R diagnosis of alcohol use disorder were studied to determine whether a multidimensional schema could classify subjects into subgroups. The Drug Use Screening Inventory was administered to 151 subjects. To test the concurrent validity of the subtypes, subjects also received a structured diagnostic psychiatric evaluation along with measures of personality, academic achievement, and drinking behavior. Two clusters were identified for each gender. Differences between clusters were reflected primarily on indicators of severity of disorder. Young women were more inclined toward affective disturbances, whereas conduct disorder was the most frequent disorder in young men. This study underscores the heterogeneity of the adolescent population qualifying for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. The differential pattern of alcohol involvement and comorbid psychopathology within clusters and between genders demonstrates the need for interventions tailored to specific clinical presentation.