Matching alcoholics to treatment - Failure to replicate finding of an earlier study

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether sociopathic alc oholics respond differentially to different types of treatment. An earlier study found that alcoholics with antisocial personality disorder had somewh at better outcomes if treated in individually focused versus relationship-f ocused cognitive-behavioral treatment. The present study was designed to at tempt to replicate these findings, One hundred and forty-nine alcoholics (4 2 of whom scored high on a measure of sociopathy) were randomly assigned to receive either individually focused cognitive-behavioral treatment or a re lationship-focused community reinforcement approach. Follow-up evaluations were conducted every 4 months for 2 years. Results failed to support the st udy hypothesis. Drinking outcomes were similar for sociopathic alcoholics i n both treatment conditions. Directions for future research are identified. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.