EXPLORING THE DIVERSITY OF DUAL DIAGNOSIS - UTILITY OF CLUSTER-ANALYSIS FOR PROGRAM-PLANNING

This study demonstrates the utility of using cluster analysis to explo re the heterogeneity of dual diagnosis populations so as to facilitate planning and implementation of individualized treatment programs. A s ample of 467 persons admitted to a state psychiatric hospital with DSM -III-R psychiatric diagnoses and substance abuse problems were intervi ewed on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and other measures to asses s psychological, social, and community functioning. Scores on seven AS I severity ratings (medical, employment, alcohol, drug, legal, family and psychiatric functioning) were used to group patients into seven ho mogeneous subgroups using cluster analysis: best functioning, unhealth y alcohol abuse, functioning alcohol abuse, drug abuse, functioning po lyabuse, criminal polyabuse, and unhealthy polyabuse. Cluster reliabil ity and validity were demonstrated using split-half tests as well as c ross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Results illustrate the extre me heterogeneity of dual diagnosis and are suggestive of how individua lized treatment programs can be matched to the particular needs of pat ients with dual diagnoses.