Discriminative validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale with cluster B personality disorders

This study was designed to assess the ability of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC-R) to differ entiate between outpatients with personality disorders with Substance-Relat ed Disorders (SRDs) and without SRDs. MMPI-2 validity clinical, and MAC-R s cale scores were compared in an SRD Cluster B group (comprised of Narcissis tic. Antisocial. Borderline, and Histrionic: n = 15), a non-SRD Cluster B g roup (n = 33), and a non-SRD group with personality disorders from Clusters A and C (n = 18). Results revealed that the substance-abusing Cluster B gr oup scored significantly higher on the MAC-R (p < .0001) as well as the Psy chopathic Deviate scale (p < .01). Dimensional analyses illustrated that MA C-R scores were related to the presence of an SRD diagnosis (rpb = .70, p < .0001) and diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder (r = .6 0. p < .0001). Stepwise regression revealed that (in order of magnitude) th e presence of a substance-abuse diagnosis followed by diagnostic criteria f or Antisocial and Histrionic Personality Disorders were most related to MAC -R scores(R = .78. R-2 = .60). This indicates that the MAC-R may be more re lated to the presence of an SRD than has been suggested, and when used in o utpatient settings as MacAndrew (1965) intended, the MAC-R may be useful as a screening device for assessing SRD among outpatients with Axis Il psycho pathology. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.