The essential-reactive distinction in alcoholism: A developmental approach.

Used L. Phillips and E. Zigler's social competence index to classify 3 groups of 20 hospitalized alcoholics, nonpsychotic psychiatric patients, and medical patients into high and low social-competence subgroups. The 3 groups were compared on Rudie and McGaughran's Essential-Reactive Alcoholism Scale. Scores on this scale were found to be related to social competence for all 3 groups. The scale was also found to differentiate alcoholics from the other 2 groups. Characteristics of the scale were examined and the hypothesis advanced that the Essential-Reactive Alcoholism Scale largely assesses a general maturity dimension. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)