GENERALIZABILITY OF THE TYPE-A TYPE-B DISTINCTION ACROSS DIFFERENT PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES/

Previous research using cluster analysis has found that abusers of bot h alcohol and cocaine can be categorized into mole severe (Type B) and less severe (Type A) subgroups. This article sought to replicate and extend these findings in a sample of 521 inpatients, outpatients, and nontreatment-seeking abusers of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and opiat es. Cluster analyses of subsamples that met the DSM-IV criteria for de pendence or abuse for alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and opiates found t hat the Type A/Type B distinction was largely generalizable across dru gs. Type As - who consistently accounted for about 60% of all substanc e abuse and about half of abusers in treatment - scored lower than Typ e Bs on a variety of substance abuse and psychiatric measures that wer e administered both at intake and at a 6-month follow-up.