Personality Deterioration of Relapsed Alcoholics Employing the MMPI: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

There are two schools of thought concerning alcoholism and recovery thereof. Pattison, Sobel & Sobel and others seemed to represent those who were not positive alcoholism was progressive; and consequently, they indicated social drinking might be resumed under certain circumstances by alcoholics. For the purposes of this study, hereafter, this school of thought was termed non-traditionalist. Others in the field, such as Milam, Fox, Mann, and Jellenik, stated alcoholism was progressive and accordingly abstinence was the only viable method for recovery. For the purposes of this study, hereafter, this school of thought was termed traditionalist. This research study was undertaken with the intent to verify progressive personality deterioration and therefore support the traditionalists or to refute them if personality deterioration was not identified.