Personality Profile and Clinical Correlates of Patients With Substance Use Disorder With and Without Comorbid Depression Under Treatment

Abstract

Background: Among patients with substance use disorder (SUD), major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent. Even though, personality plays an important role in treatment outcomes for individuals with SUD and SUD + MDD, few studies have explored personality characteristics in these samples. This study aims to describe personality for patients with SUD taking into account the comorbid MDD, using the Alternative Five Factor Model (AFFM). We also aim to compare SUD + MDD patients with population norms and to elucidate possible personality clinical correlates.Methods: For our study, 116 male patients undergoing for SUD treatment were divided in two groups: SUD only (N = 58) and SUD + MDD (N = 58). To examine personality, we used the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire and multiple analyses of covariance were performed to identify differences. In a first analysis, age was introduced as a covariate whereas in a second analysis the continuous variables that showed to have a discriminant value for the groups were added as covariates. Variables predicting the presence of dual diagnosis and personality clinical correlates were analyzed by logistic and linear regression models, respectively. We observed that patients with SUD + MDD show distinctive personality characteristics compared with patients with SUD only and population norms.Results: According to the AFFM, SUD + MDD patients are characterized by higher Neuroticism-Anxiety (positively associated to depressive symptoms) and Impulsivity; and by lower Parties and Friends. Moreover, the probability of having a dual depressive disorder was represented by the amount of medications and substances used. The preference for hard work and the energy self-reported levels (Work Activity trait) are linked to these clinical variables rather than to the presence/absence of a dual depressive disorder.Conclusions: Even when controlling clinical variables related to a higher probability of having a dual depressive disorder, the Neuroticism-Anxiety is a personality trait that strongly differentiates between SUD only and SUD + MDD patients. Further investigation is needed to explore the role of this personality trait as endophenotype in dual depressive men. Our results underline the importance of a dimensional understanding of personality and its clinical correlates among patients with SUD + MDD; this approach could provide us information on specific treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of patients.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Male Patients under Treatment for Substance Use Disorders with and without Major Depressive Disorder: Influence in Clinical Course at One-Year Follow-Up

“…The results obtained at the sociodemographic level indicate that our sample is similar to that described in previous studies carried out in patients with a dual disorder [ 15 , 17 ], with patients in the group with dual depression being mostly pensioners due to illness, while patients who did not show psychiatric comorbidity were either working or on sick leave due to the SUD. Regarding the clinical characteristics linked to the SUD, we highlight that the main substances of use are in line with the previous data [ 5 , 16 ], with alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis being the most prevalent in both groups. Furthermore, the age of onset of SUD in dual depressive patients was earlier than the age of diagnosis of depression, and alcohol was the most prevalent substance in this group.…”

“…Several studies indicate that patients with dual disorders have a worse HRQoL compared to patients with only one diagnosis [ 12 , 15 , 16 ]. Comorbidity between an SUD and a mental disorder has been consistently associated with worse quality of life in different domains.…”

Exploring substance use disorders and relapse in Mauritian male addicts

“…Early detection of a dual diagnosis could facilitate addict treatment plans with primary objective to improve remission rates and mitigate adverse somatic and psychological consequences related to both SUD and psychiatric co-morbidities ( Grant et al., 2004 ; van den Bosch and Verheul, 2007 ); while an interesting avenue would also be to understand directionality of the coupled disorders in order of influence. A caveat in the current study was the inattention to mood disorders such as major depression which has been intimately linked to SUD and identified as a potent predictor of relapse as demonstrated by Julia Elena Marquez-Arrico, Río-Martínez, Navarro, Prat, and Adan (2019) . This could have further facilitated the investigation of co-existing personality and mood disorders in the population of SUD as previously reported by Grilo et al.…”

Temperament and Character Profile and Its Clinical Correlates in Male Patients with Dual Schizophrenia

“…Although much of the research on personality in DD has followed a categorical perspective in the analysis of relationships between personality disorders and SUD [ 19 , 20 ], studying personality from a dimensional perspective has become relevant in understanding entities such as SUD [ 21 , 22 ], SZ [ 23 , 24 ], and DD [ 25 , 26 ]. However, there are few available papers addressing personality traits in patients with SZ+.…”