Interpersonal behavior in a small group setting during the heroin addiction cycle

An experimental study of aggressive and neutral interpretative bias in opiate-dependent and opiate-abstinent men

There is a paucity of research on the relationship between opiate use and aggression, and no previous study has examined this from a cognitive theoretical perspective, which views an individual's interpretation of information as a central mediator of their response to it. This study aimed to determine whether opiate users and ex-users differed from opiate-naïve controls on a task which involved processing ambiguous sentences. In an independent group design, the interpretative bias task was administered to 64 participants: 21 opiate-dependent receiving methadone maintenance treatment, 21 opiate-abstinent in rehabilitation, and 22 healthy unemployed controls. We found that both opiate-dependent and opiate-abstinent groups interpreted ambiguous sentences in a neutral rather than an aggressive way, whereas controls showed no bias in either direction. In the opiate-dependent group, neutral interpretative bias correlated both with their current dose of methadone and years of methadone use. These findings indicate that current and ex-opiate users in treatment have a bias towards neutral interpretations of ambiguous information. The fact that neutral interpretative bias in opiate-dependent individuals correlated with current dose and years of methadone use suggests that methadone treatment is associated with a neutral cognitive bias. Decreased testosterone levels associated with chronic opiate use may underpin this neutral bias.

Drugs of abuse and the elicitation of human aggressive behavior

The drug-violence relationship exists for several reasons, some direct (drugs pharmacologically inducing violence) and some indirect (violence occurring in order to attain drugs). Moreover, the nature of that relationship is often complex, with intoxication, neurotoxic, and withdrawal effects often being confused and/or confounded. This paper reviews the existing literature regarding the extent to which various drugs of abuse may be directly associated with heightened interpersonal violence. Alcohol is clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication-violence relationship. The literatures concerning benzodiazepines, opiates, psychostimulants, and phencyclidine (PCP) are idiosyncratic but suggest that personality factors may be as (or more) important than pharmacological ones. Cannabis reduces likelihood of violence during intoxication, but mounting evidence associates withdrawal with aggressivity. The literature on the relationship between steroids and aggression is largely confounded, and between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and aggression insufficient to draw any reasonable conclusions. Conclusions and policy implications are briefly discussed.

Morphine and human aggression

Twenty-eight male undergraduates received either 45 mg of immediate-release oral morphine tablets or a placebo. Subjects were then given the opportunity to administer electric shocks to an increasingly aggressive bogus opponent during a competitive reaction-time task. Subjects in the morphine condition were more willing to initiate attacks against their opponent than subjects in the placebo condition, and reacted more aggressively at all levels of provocation.

Effects of opiate withdrawal on MMPI profile scores

A sample of 200 opiate addicts were given the MMPI either during or after detoxification. Results showed decreases in K and in scores on the MacAndrews Alcoholism Scale; and increases in Hypocondriasis and Hypomania, and on the Wiggins Content Scales of Authority Conflicts, Psychoticism, Poor Health, and Hypomania during detoxification. When adjusted for age effects, Ss still showed significant elevations on Hypocondriasis, Hypomania, and Poor Health. Results are discussed in terms of documenting the specific effects of detox on MMPI profiles and may be construed as a construct validation report on the MMPI itself.

Heroin Maintenance: A Medical View

People who are fed up with crime in the streets think, simplistically, that heroin maintenance will solve the problem. According to the medical view presented here, heroin maintenance will not solve any problem, either for the addict or for society, and it will have predictable adverse consequences. Some problems have no complete solution. Some “solutions” can be worse than the problems they are meant to solve.

Personality characteristics of heroin addicts: a review of the empirical literature with critique--part II

This paper is the second part of a two-part series reviewing the empirical literature on personality characteristics of heroin addicts. It focuses on MMPI-based studies, personality differences between addict subgroups, and changes during the addiction cycle and following treatment. Several personality characteristics of heroin addicts have been consistently validated experimentally, but it is impossible to determine whether these traits comprise the "addictive personality" and predated drug use, or whether they are the result of drug addiction. Most research in this area has proceeded without the benefit of a theoretical premise on which to generate hypotheses and build models of heroin addiction. It is recommended that more study-based research occur that tests postulates.

Personality characteristics of heroin addicts: a review of the empirical literature with critique--part I

The empirical literature on personality characteristics of heroin addicts is reviewed. Studies using projective techniques, attribution theory, measures of needs values traits, and self-report inventories are summarized as they relate to heroin addicts. Summary statements are included in each section.