Objects & Methods:The authors tried to classify 75 male patients with alcohol dependence by
using cluster analysis of their MMPI data, to identify the characteristics of each subtype classified
through that process and to evaluate the discriminant validity of the classification.
Results:The subjects were divided into 3 subtypes by K-means cluster analysis of MMPI
scores:a psychotic subtype of 6(Pa)-7(Pt)-8(Sc) profile(21.4%), a neurotic subtype of 2(D)-
3(Hy)-1(Hs) profile(49.3%), a normal subtype(29.3%). But, there were no statistically significant
differences of age, educational level, marital status, admission history due to alcoholic problems,
number of drinking day per week, average amount of ethanol consumed per drinking occasion, age at
onset of drinking and family history of alcoholism among these three subtypes.
Conclusion:It seems that the subjects with alcohol dependence could be classified into three
subtypes with statistical significance, but this statistical classification does not constitute any evidence
of discriminant validity.