SUBTYPES OF EARLY AGE ONSET ALCOHOLISM

Forty-three adolescents qualifying for a DSM-III-R diagnosis of alcoho l abuse/dependence were classified according to the internalizing-exte rnalizing behavior dimension. Two clusters were identified. The majori ty of subjects clustered into a group characterized by behavioral dysc ontrol and hypophoria (history of suicide attempts) (cluster 2), where as the other group was primarily featured by negative affect (cluster 1). Cluster 2 subjects demonstrated more severe alcohol and drug use-r elated problems, behavioral disturbances, and general psychopathology; lower prevalence of depressive disorders; and less severe anxiety dis orders. These results, implicating two variants of adolescent alcohol abuse/dependence, suggest the need to tailor differential treatments t o adolescents with alcohol abuse/dependence based on personality chara cteristics and clinical presentation.