AGGRESSIVENESS, ONSET OF DEPENDENCE, AND TREATMENT OUTCOME IN SOCIALLY WELL-ADAPTED ALCOHOLICS

Current typologies of alcoholism derive from the whole spectrumof afflicted persons. One type is characterized by variablessuch as early onset of dependence, violence, and aggressiveness.In previous research, this has been shown to be correlated withpoorer prognosis. We tested this association in a fairly homogeneoussubgroup of 258 socially rather well-adjusted male inpatients.Aggressiveness was assessed psychometrically. As a group, patientsdid not differ from general population norms. However, age wasnegatively correlated with aggressiveness. Even after takingpatients' age and duration of dependence into account, aggressivenesswas associated with an early onset of dependence and furtheraspects of drinking history, thus confirming results from previoustypology research. Overall treatment outcome after 6 and 12months was quite good, but was not influenced by aggression.