Relationship between treatment outcome and subtype of alcoholism in men.

The subdivision of alcoholism into type I and type II, as suggested by Cloninger et al., was applied to two groups of men alcoholics: 30 in treatment for alcoholism ("active" alcoholics) and 39 ex-alcoholics. Despite the fact that the duration of alcohol misuse did not differ between the groups, there were significantly more type II alcoholics among the ex-alcoholics and more type I alcoholics among the active alcoholics. The results seem to indicate a better prognosis in type II alcoholism. The type I and type II alcoholics differed also, as in previous studies, in their frequencies of drug misuse and criminality.