Psychological Aspects of Heroin and Other Drug Dependence

The drug-of-choice phenomenon psychological differences among drug users who preferred different drugs

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Brief Symptom Inventory were administered to 125 recovering drug users with three or more months abstinent from drugs. Subjects were divided according to drug preference: opiates, stimulants, marijuana, alcohol, and a polydrug preference. Opiate users were significantly higher in Susceptibility to Boredom. Alcohol misusers compared to a combined stimulant, opiate, and polydrug group were significantly lower in Extroversion and Susceptibility to Boredom. Subjects raised in drug/alcohol-using families scored significantly higher on Neuroticism and on the Positive Symptom Total of the BSI, and had a higher rate of suicidality.

The drug-of-choice phenomenon: why addicts start using their preferred drug

The reasons why addicts begin using their preferred drug are examined and compared for differences between groups. Utilizing a questionnaire regarding their drug of choice and their reasons for use, a survey was made of 130 subjects (88 men and 42 women; mean age = 34.3 years) who were actively involved in recovery programs. The most frequent period of abstinence from the use of alcohol and other drugs was between one and two years. Forty-five of the subjects preferred opioids, 27 amphetamines, 24 cocaine, 18 marijuana, and 16 alcohol. The reasons for use were separated into three categories: emotional, physical, and social. Results showed that the amphetamine and cocaine addicts selected a higher number of physical reasons for use, and that the alcohol group chose social reasons most frequently. There were no differences between drug groups in total number of emotional reasons selected. Specific reasons for use were also analyzed between drug-of-choice groups. The findings cast doubt on earlier studies that suggested differential psychopathology or emotional disorders among addicts with different drugs of choice. Clinical implications of these data are discussed.

Personality and demographic characteristics associated with the prescribing of psychoactive medications for methadone maintenance patients

This study reviews the prescription of psychoactive medications in a methadone maintenance clinic and looks for salient personality and cognitive differences between medication groups based on the administration of a battery of psychological tests. One hundred and nine consecutive admissions to a methadone program were studied, of which 38.5% had received a psychoactive medication in addition to methadone. The data were analyzed comparing results for antianxiety and antidepressant medication groups as well as a methadone-only group. The antianxiety medication group displayed more somatic complaints, worries, and tension and was more timid, impulsive, and pessimistic than the other two groups. There were only small differences between the antidepressant medication and methadone-only groups. There were no significant differences between groups on cognitive measures. Meaningful differences in several demographic variables also emerged. The implications for this research are discussed.

The social networks of opioid abusers

Using social network analysis, the pretreatment social networks of 106 street drug abusers are examined. While no significant sociodemographic differences are found between opioid and nonopioid abusers, eight significant univariate differences in the characteristics of their social networks are reported. Four of these differences account for 32% of the variation between the two groups of abusers. The social networks of opioid abusers appear significantly less conventional than those of nonopioid abusers; however, opioid abusers appear less committed to the values and behaviors displayed by their network members. Network reconstruction is discussed as an explicit, empirically supportable rehabilitation strategy.

Trait anxiety reductions in a substance abuse population trained in stress management

Investigated a 2-week (eight-session) stress management training program into an ongoing psychotherapy group for 11 hospitalized polydrug-abusing patients. These patients were compared to a control group of 14 similar patients on the same ward, who were participating in different psychotherapy groups. Results indicated that the stress management treatment group produced significant decreases in trait anxiety on the STAI (p less than .005) and TMAS (p less than .01). The control group's reduction was not significant, and the difference between the two groups was significant (p less than .05). Subjective reports suggested that treatment Ss used the stress management techniques to overcome insomnia associated with withdrawal, to manage anger, and to reduce situational anxiety.

Personality characteristics of heroin addicts: review of empirical research 1976-1979

Reviewed are 47 empirical studies. The paper contains sections on results from studies using specific psychometric instruments and measuring specific traits, personality differences in subgroups of heroin addicts, personality changes following treatment, and suggestions for future research. Measuring the presence or absence of a particular trait or characteristic is no longer sufficient. Rather, we need typologies within an interactional framework that systematically relates traits to other variables of interest (i.e., recidivism, treatment retention, and etiology).

Sexual dynamics and strength of heroin addiction: a three-factor model of an ideology

The association between heroin addicts' strength of addiction (SOA) and sexuality is documented. A three-factor behaviorally operational model based on psychoanalytic theory was constructed to explain the contingencies of the association. While the family, self and eroticism factors have insignificant main effects on SOA, the effect of the three-factor model as a whole is significant. A type of heroin addict associated with high SOA emerges from the analysis: A male from a surrogate family background, possessing a strongly autonomous impulsive self and finds erotic satisfaction in the needle-specific, pharmacogenic orgasm, as opposed to the genital-specific, physiogenic orgasm.

Affective changes in male and female methadone patients

The Eysenck Personality Inventory and Profile of Mood States were administered to 107 men and 43 women before starting methadone maintenance and again after four months of treatment. Both men and women reported decreases in levels of neuroticism, anxiety, and fatigue after four months of treatment. The women described themselves as less depressed, whereas the men indicated that they felt more vigorous. However, the post-test levels of affect for both sexes were still comparable to those reported for outpatient psychoneurotics. The relationships of certain background characteristics and treatment experiences associated with both sexes' changes in affect were also described.

Personalities of addicts

To investigate personality types among a group of drug abusers participating in a VA voluntary treatment program MMPI profiles were obtained for 59 male veterans. Three most frequently appearing types were obtained. The results suggest that these veterans are not a unique group of drug abusers. They are similar to classifications of 40 years ago.

The causes of heroin addiction. A review of the literature. Part I

The causes of heroin addiction have been studied and debated, and many theories have evolved. This article reviews the extensive literature on the subject and groups the material under the categories of Psychological, Pharmacological, Genetic, Socilogical, Social Protest, The Family, and Stepping Stone theories.

Personality patterns of drug abusers as shown by MMPI profiles

MMPI and 16 PF patterns of a group of drug abusers who were participating in a voluntary VA Drug Abuse Program were investigated. The MMPI profiles of 91 male veterans who ranged in age from 18-45 years were classified according to two-point code types. A comparison was made of the most frequently occurring code types among drug abusers, medical patients, and psychiatric patients. The two modal profile types among drug abusers were the 4-9/9-4 and the 2-4/4-2, which accounted for 32% of the sample. An additional comparison between the two modal types and responses to the 16 PF was made. Results indicate a closer resemblance to psychiatric patients than to medical patients, and the variety of high point code types is discussed. The similarity between the present sample of modal code types with research on drug abusers undertaken 20 years previously also is discussed.

An empirical typology of heroin abusers

The MMPI profiles of 59 participants in a VA Drug Abuse Program were analyzed. A total of eight types were defined by factor analysis. Three of the groups accounted for 60% of the Ss. The three groups had profiles that involved elevations on scales 2, 4, 8, and 9.