The use of multivariate personality strategies in predicting attrition from alcoholism treatment.

This study attempted to replicate previous work which used discriminant analysis to predict attrition from an outpatient alcoholism treatment program. The MMPI-168 and Rotter's locus of control scale were administered to a sample of inpatient male alcoholics who later entered outpatient treatment. The MMPI-168 was scored using 5 factor-analytically derived measures, Depression, Somatization, Low Morale, Psychotic Distortion and Acting Out. Both studies found Depression to be the strongest predictor of attrition after controlling for Somatization. Internal locus of control was also related to attrition. The utility of discriminant analysis in predicting outcome from personality data and the ramifications for treatment is discussed.