This study showed that carefully selected analytic methods enhance the validity and potential utility of empirically derived subtypes based on opioid-use behaviors. The subtypes are the result of multivariate analyses, so that the choice of one or a few parameters on which to compare them cannot adequately capture the differences among subtypes. Although these methods cannot readily be applied in a clinical setting, the findings presented here provide insight into subtypes that appear to have clinical significance. For example, as shown in Table 3, the subtypes differed significantly on a variety of co-occurring psychiatric disorders. This has important diagnostic and potential therapeutic implications that warrant further research.
