Personality dimensions and drug of choice: A descriptive study using Cloninger's temperament and character inventory revised

Abstract

Personality dimensions related with drug use are novelty seeking, impulsivity and harm avoidance. Studies predicting drug of choice over personality variables are controversial.ObjectiveTo describe personality profile of drug users in relation to substance of choice.AimsTo know personality dimension differences according to drug used.MethodsCloninger's TCI-R was administered to 218 patients in a dual diagnosis unit.SPSS was applied.ResultsOf the patients, 33.94% had personality disorder. Principal substances used were alcohol, cocaine and cannabis.Most of drug users had normal scores in each dimension. No high scores were found in reward dependence, self-directedness and cooperativeness with any drug.High scores were observed for novelty seeking in 42.9% of timulants users; for arm avoidance in a quarter of cocaine, alcohol and methadone users and for persistence in 18.2% of hypnotics users.Low scores were observed for reward dependence in 45% of heroine and hypnotics users; for persistence in 50% of methadone and 32% of cocaine users; for self-directedness in most of types of drug users and for cooperativeness in up to 50% in heroine, hypnotics, stimulants and cocaine users.Statistical significant differences were observed for cocaine use and high novelty seeking and low cooperation; for non cannabis use and high harm avoidance; for non anfetamine use and low scores in reward dependence; for opiate use and low self-directedness.ConclusionsMost of patients had normal scores in the different dimensions.Presence of comorbid personality disorder led us to consider the results with caution.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Correlation between loneliness, personality traits, and treatment outcomes in patients with methamphetamine use disorder

“…NS and HA are associated with higher risk of substance abuse 17 , 19 . For example, those who had stimulant abuse reported higher scores of NS, while those who had opioid and hypnotics abuse reported higher scores of HA 20 . In addition, both human and rodent studies demonstrated that high novelty seeking can predict an earlier beginning stage of drug abuse and a transition to compulsive drug use and relapse 21 .…”