Differential patterns of alcohol abuse among normal, neurotic, psychotic, and characterological types.

The MMPIs of 201 male alcoholic inpatients were classified into normal, neurotic, psychotic, and characterological types according to the Goldberg rules (1972). Multivariate analysis of variance of the respective Alcohol Use Inventory ( AUI ) scores showed that the groups differed in a multivariate sense. The pattern of significant univariate differences indicated that both the neurotic and psychotic groups reported more severe symptoms and consequences of alcohol abuse than the normal and characterological types. No univariate differences were found between either the neurotic and psychotic types or the normal and characterological types. Results were discussed in terms of functions that alcohol served among the groups.

Cross-validation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory with an alcoholic population.

Anxiety has been identified in the research literature on alcohol abusers as an important clinical variable. Little published data on State- and Trait-Anxiety scores from the STAI (Form Y) are available. Pre- and post-treatment STAI -Y scores were examined from two independent, but similar samples of male inpatients at a VA Medical Center Alcohol Dependence Treatment Unit. Additional normative data from both samples are presented (N = 219). Scores for both State- and Trait-Anxiety were compared between samples; no significant differences were found except for post-treatment Trait-Anxiety. The 1980 sample scored lower on this subscale. The findings suggest that the STAI (Form Y) is a stable instrument across time when used to assess anxiety in an alcoholic population. The need for further investigation on the correlates between observable behaviors of alcoholics and the personality construct of anxiety is discussed.

Anxiety in an alcoholic population: a normative study.

While anxiety is part of the clinical picture for alcohol abusers, there are no published normative data available for this population on state and trait anxiety as assessed by the STAI (Form Y). Pre- and posttreatment STAI-Y scores were examined from 107 males who volunteered for treatment at a Veterans Administration Medical Center Alcohol Dependence Treatment Unit. Normative data on the STAI (Form Y) from an alcoholic sample are presented (N = 107). Comparison of pre-admission and posttreatment scores yielded significant differences for both state anxiety and trait anxiety. Use of the STAI-Y with alcoholic inpatients for assessing self-reported changes of both transitory (state) anxiety and stable (trait) anxiety seems appropriate. The need for further construct validation as well as systematic manipulation of treatment variables and situational factors with this population is discussed.

Dental outpatients: health locus of control correlates.

Examined relationships between the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales, Beck Depression Inventory, Trait subscales of the State-Trait Personality Inventory, and dental ratings of oral hygiene and presence of periodontal disease with dental outpatients (N = 101) at a Veterans Administration Medical Center Dental Clinic. Results indicated that this sample of outpatients scored comparably on MHLC Health Internality and Health Externality to a sample reported by Wallston and Wallston. Older dental patients, in the present sample, scored significantly higher on Powerful Others Externality in contrast to younger Ss, which suggests greater reliance on health professionals for dental health. Confirmatory evidence is presented on the negative correlations of depression, anger, and anxiety with Health Internality. Differential approaches to dental treatment are discussed.

The relationship between health locus of control beliefs and the MMPI with an alcoholic population.

Examined relationships between the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales and subscales of the MMPI with inpatients (N = 90) at a Veterans Administration Medical Center Alcohol Dependency Treatment Unit. Comparison of MHLC scores for the alcoholic group and a normative sample of healthy adults revealed that alcoholics scored significantly higher on the Internality and Powerful Others Externality Scales. Significant correlations were found between dimensions of perceived locus of control and various personality characteristics; the Chance Externality Scale showed the strongest relationship to the MMPI subscales. Implications for future research are discussed, with emphasis on the potential clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of alcoholic treatment programs that incorporate the alcoholic's beliefs about personal control over health.

The psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales in an alcoholic population.

Examined the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales with inpatients (N = 100) who were being treated at a Veterans Administration Medical Center Alcohol Dependence Treatment Unit. Acceptable levels of internal consistency were found whether consideration was given to the 6-item scales or the combined 12-item version. The three MHLC Scales appear to measure largely independent dimensions of locus of control beliefs specifically related to health. Factor analyses suggested that the instrument was factoraly valid; three distinct factors emerged that fulfill notions of parsimony, psychological meaningfulness, and simple structure. The potential utility of the MHLC Scales for both clinical and research purposes is discussed with emphasis on individualized health intervention planning and treatment modalities that utilize the health locus of control construct.

The psychometric properties of the Health Locus of Control Scale with medical and surgical patients.

Examined the psychometric properties of the Health Locus of Control (HLC) Scale with inpatients from medical and surgical wards (N = 111) at a Veterans Administration Medical Center. Factor analyses suggested that the two-factor solution met important criteria that involved simple structure, parsimony, and psychological meaningfulness. Factor I was comprised entirely of salient items that were internally worded, and Factor II was comprised of salient externally worded items. Item remainder correlation coefficients were calculated; the lowest value was .18 for item 5, and the highest value was .45 for items 1 and 10. Cronbach's alpha was .63 for the internally worded items and .56 for the externally worded items. The psychometric properties were considered adequate, although results were somewhat lower than those reported in the original HLC article. Clinical application of the scale with medical and surgical inpatients is discussed with particular emphasis on outcome studies.