A Rank Order Analysis of the Symptoms of Alcoholism

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The customary use of mean ages in the analysis of alcoholism symptom onset can obscure important clustering of symptoms. The purpose here was to investigate the agreement in the order of symptom onset with the effect of age of onset removed. A rank order analysis was made of onset ages for 14 selected symptoms typically associated with the alcoholism process. The study group comprised 252 Wisconsin alcoholics, about half of whom were affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous. The results showed that, in the process, only the initial symptoms (first drink, first intoxication, and first blackout) and the terminal symptom (first reached lowest point) were good indicators of stage, and the intermediate stages were obscured by clustering. The most noteworthy clusters were: (a) 1st daytime intoxication, 1st prolonged bouts, and 1st morning drinking; (b) 1st convulsions, 1st tremors, and 1st protecting supply; (c) 1st getting drunk on less liquor and 1st loss of control; and (d) 1st loss of control and 1st daytime drunk. In summary, the rank order analysis of alcoholism symptoms can provide sharper notions about the position of onset in the total process, as well as their interrelations and real complexity.