Future time perspective in alcoholics, process and reactive schizophrenics, and normals.

Future time perspective was investigated in alcoholics, process and reactive schizophrenics, and hospitalized medical patients. The four groups, of 24 subjects each, were compared on measures of future extension, coherence, density, and directionality based on Kastenbaum's model of future time perspective. Process and reactive schizophrenics differed only in future coherence, with reactives significantly more coherent. Both alcoholics and normals showed significantly greater future extension (on one of two extension measures) than both groups of schizophrenics. Future coherence for alcoholics and normals was significantly greater than for process schizophrenics but not greater than for reactives. Alcoholics had significantly greater future density than schizophrenics and normals. Alcoholics showed significantly greater future coherence than normals. The greater future density and coherence for alcoholics than normals appeared to be due to sampling and situational differences. These results suggested that future time perspective deficits are temporary for alcoholics and that long-range treatment goals can be appropriate for them.