Psychotherapy Volume 30/Summer 1993/Number 2 A MODEL FOR INDIVIDUALIZING INTERVENTIONS FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE/DEPENDENCE USING BASIC PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS KAREN S. PFOST Illinois State University RUSSEL M. NEWTON Columbia, Missouri JOSEPH T. KUNCE CORRINE S. COPE University of Missouri—Columbia A model for individualizing interventions for persons with problems of alcohol abuse/dependence is presented. The Personal Styles model of personality, which is grounded in basic, enduring personality characteristics, is used as the basis for individualizing interventions. Four distinctly different types of personality are identified and their adaptive, maladaptive, and alcohol- related behaviors are discussed. Differential treatment strategies are proposed and described for each type. For 50 years the individualization of treatment for persons with problems of alcohol abuse/de- pendence has been recommended (Bowman & Jellinek, 1941; Pattison, 1980). Although a num- ber of models for individualizing treatment have been suggested (e.g., Donovon & Marlatt, 1988), typical treatment programs continue to employ a standard set of procedures for all clients (Miller & Hester, 1986). Miller (1989) aptly compared these treatment approaches to the efforts of Pro- crustes to make persons fit an iron bed by stretch- ing or amputating limbs. Correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to Karen Pfost, Illinois State University, Department of Psy- chology 4620, De Garmo Hall 435, Normal, IL 61761-6901. GREGORY L. GREENWOOD Chicago, Illinois The need for individualizing treatment can be inferred from research findings that there is no single alcoholic personality type (Barnes, 1979). Most of the research that has challenged the myth of the "alcoholic personality" is based on the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inven- tory (MMPI) to differentiate alcoholic subtypes. Although three to four types were delineated in early studies (e.g., Goldstein & Linden, 1969; Pfost, Kunce, & Stevens, 1984), Graham & Strenger (1988) described six cluster types that occur consistently across studies. Treatment pro- cedures have been differentiated based on MMPI personality types such as the "impulsive drinker", the "guilty drinker", and the "passive-dependent drinker" (Alfano, Nerviano, & Thurstin, 1987). However, a pitfall in individualizing treatment based on an inventory such as the MMPI is that the scores may reflect transient psychopathologi- cal sequelae of alcohol abuse/dependence rather than fundamental personality structure (Bean- Bayog, 1988; Butcher, 1988; Kunce & Newton, 1989; Nathan, 1988; Rohan, 1972). Many individuals with problems of alcohol abuse/dependence do not have major psychiatric disorders (Vaillant et al., 1987). On the other hand, alcoholism is associated with a wide range of maladaptive characteristics such as depression and antisocial behavior (Lewis, Rice, & Helzer, 1983; Powell et al. 1982; Shuckit, 1973). Thus, it seems useful to conceptualize ways of individu- alizing treatment using a classification system based on basic, enduring aspects of personality that have implications for psychopathology. 334 This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.