The Connection Between Drugs of Abuse and Personality Disorders

IntroductionPatients who are suffering from different type of drugs have special individual and psychological problems. These changes are important for regulation and to control their behaviour.ObjectivesTo study the psychological characteristics and personal resources of the patients who are suffering from abuse of drugs.MethodsFifty patients were studied, 63.3% men and 36.7% women and in the ages of 18–21 years. Following psychodiagnostic methods are used: Kettel's sixteen personality factor test, Leonhard-Shmishek's personality test, scale of reactive and personal anxiety Spielberger-Hanin.ResultsAmount those patients were suffering from different type of drugs: synthetic cannabinoids-66.7%, 20% were dependent on synthetic cathinone and 13.3% were dependent on opiates (heroin). According to Leonhard-Shmishek's scales, the most often of personality disorders were dysthymic type, hyperthymic type and explosive type. According to Kettel's scale were indicated the leading individually-psychological properties in more than half of the subjects is the development of abstract thinking, free thinking, impulsiveness, lack of confidence to the authorities, the high emotional tension, emotional instability and irresponsibility. An analysis of global factors indicative of the severity indices of extraversion. According to Spielberger-Hanin's scale, 80% of patients with substance abuse had mild level of situational and personal anxiety, which can be identified as an important psychotherapeutic resource.ConclusionsAccording to scales, the most often of personality disorders were dysthymic type, hyperthymic type and explosive type. Eighty percent of patients with drug abuse had mild level of situational and personal anxiety. This feature is main of predictor as an important psychotherapeutic resource.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Male Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Users with Personality Disorders Report More Aggressive Feelings, Suicidal Thoughts, and Criminality

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56060265 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (6) ◽

pp. 265 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Annica Börjesson ◽

Christian Möller ◽

Anders Hagelin ◽

Veronica Vicente ◽

Anders Rane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorder ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Personality Disorders ◽

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Clinical Interviews ◽

Increased Risk

Background and objectives: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are mainly used for aesthetic and performance-enhancing reasons. Their use is a growing public health problem and concern for society because of their adverse effects. The primary aim of this study was to identify psychiatric and personality disorders and to measure anxiety and depression in AAS users. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six males who actively contacted the Anti-Doping Hot-Line and wished to stop using AAS were included. Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II were used to diagnose psychiatric and personality disorders. The Brief Scale for Anxiety and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (subscales from the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale) were used to measure changes in anxiety and depression. Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II were performed at one time point. Anxiety and depression were measured at inclusion and after six months. Urine samples were collected for an analysis of AAS and drugs of abuse. Results: All participants reported some adverse effects that they associated with AAS use. In total, 56% and 52% of the cohort fulfilled the criteria for Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II diagnoses, respectively. A significantly increased risk of reporting aggressive feelings/behaviors (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.9; Confidence Interval (CI) 0.99–25, p = 0.04), suicidal thoughts/attempts (OR = 4.6, CI 95; 0.99–21, p = 0.04) and criminality (OR = 6.5, CI 1–39, p = 0.03) was found among individuals with AAS use fulfilling the criteria for personality disorders compared with those without such AAS use. The Brief Scale for Anxiety score decreased from the median of 15 at inclusion to 10 at the follow-up visit six months later (p = 0.01, n = 19). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that among individuals with AAS use, those with a personality disorder report more aggressive behaviors, suicidal thoughts/suicidal attempts, and criminality than those without a personality disorder.

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Tools & Resources: Impairment and Disability Web Sites

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.1999.novdec03 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 5-6

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorders ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Web Sites ◽

Outpatient Psychotherapy ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Not Otherwise Specified ◽

Cluster B Personality Disorders ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

And Behavior

Abstract Personality disorders are enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate markedly from those expected by the individual's culture; these inflexible and pervasive patterns reflect issues with cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning and impulse control, and lead to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fourth Edition, defines two specific personality disorders, in addition to an eleventh condition, Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Cluster A personality disorders include paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personalities; of these, Paranoid Personality Disorder probably is most common in the legal arena. Cluster B personality disorders include antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality. Such people may suffer from frantic efforts to avoid perceived abandonment, patterns of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, an identity disturbance, and impulsivity. Legal issues that involve individuals with cluster B personality disorders often involve determination of causation of the person's problems, assessment of claims of harassment, and assessment of the person's fitness for employment. Cluster C personality disorders include avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality. Two case histories illustrate some of the complexities of assessing impairment in workers with personality disorders, including drug abuse, hospitalizations, and inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy.

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Interest and limitations of projective techniques in the assessment of personality disorders

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(00)90500-5 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 11-14

Author(s):

J Petot

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorders ◽

Projective Techniques

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Assessment and Diagnosis of Personality Disorders

10.1017/cbo9780511663215 ◽

1997 ◽

Cited By ~ 113

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorders ◽

Assessment And Diagnosis

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Test-Retest Reliability of a Self-Report Questionnaire for DSM-IV and ICD-10 Personality Disorders

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027//1015-5759.16.1.53 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 53-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Hans Ottosson ◽

Martin Grann ◽

Gunnar Kullgren

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorder ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Personality Disorders ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Self Report ◽

Anxiety State ◽

Short Term ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Axis I ◽

Test Retest Reliability

Summary: Short-term stability or test-retest reliability of self-reported personality traits is likely to be biased if the respondent is affected by a depressive or anxiety state. However, in some studies, DSM-oriented self-reported instruments have proved to be reasonably stable in the short term, regardless of co-occurring depressive or anxiety disorders. In the present study, we examined the short-term test-retest reliability of a new self-report questionnaire for personality disorder diagnosis (DIP-Q) on a clinical sample of 30 individuals, having either a depressive, an anxiety, or no axis-I disorder. Test-retest scorings from subjects with depressive disorders were mostly unstable, with a significant change in fulfilled criteria between entry and retest for three out of ten personality disorders: borderline, avoidant and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Scorings from subjects with anxiety disorders were unstable only for cluster C and dependent personality disorder items. In the absence of co-morbid depressive or anxiety disorders, mean dimensional scores of DIP-Q showed no significant differences between entry and retest. Overall, the effect from state on trait scorings was moderate, and it is concluded that test-retest reliability for DIP-Q is acceptable.

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Factors of Impulsivity and Cluster B Personality Dimensions

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000237 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 203-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christopher M. Lootens ◽

Christopher D. Robertson ◽

John T. Mitchell ◽

Nathan A. Kimbrel ◽

Natalie E. Hundt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorders ◽

The Other ◽

Diagnostic Classification ◽

Personality Dimensions ◽

Cluster B Personality Disorders ◽

Classification And Treatment

Abstract. The goal of the present investigation was to expand the literature on impulsivity and Cluster B personality disorders (PDs) by conceptualizing impulsivity in a multidimensional manner. Two separate undergraduate samples (n = 223; n = 204) completed measures of impulsivity and Cluster B dimensions. Impulsivity was indeed predictive of Cluster B dimensions and, importantly, each PD scale exhibited a unique impulsivity profile. Findings for borderline PD scores were highly consistent across samples and strongly and positively associated with urgency and lack of perseverance, as expected. Findings for the other PD dimensions also exhibited a fair amount of consistency. Implications of these findings for diagnostic classification and treatment are discussed.

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The Use of Prescription Drugs and Drugs of Abuse for Neuroenhancement in Europe

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000228 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 155-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Larissa J. Maier ◽

Michael P. Schaub

Keyword(s):

Prescription Drugs ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Low Dose ◽

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Mental Performance ◽

Or Education ◽

Learning Techniques ◽

Monitoring The Future ◽

Definition Of

Abstract. Pharmacological neuroenhancement, defined as the misuse of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol for the purpose of enhancing cognition, mood, or prosocial behavior, is not widespread in Europe – nevertheless, it does occur. Thus far, no drug has been proven as safe and effective for cognitive enhancement in otherwise healthy individuals. European studies have investigated the misuse of prescription and illicit stimulants to increase cognitive performance as well as the use of tranquilizers, alcohol, and cannabis to cope with stress related to work or education. Young people in educational settings report pharmacological neuroenhancement more frequently than those in other settings. Although the regular use of drugs for neuroenhancement is not common in Europe, the irregular and low-dose usage of neuroenhancers might cause adverse reactions. Previous studies have revealed that obtaining adequate amounts of sleep and using successful learning techniques effectively improve mental performance, whereas pharmacological neuroenhancement is associated with ambiguous effects. Therefore, non-substance-related alternatives should be promoted to cope with stressful situations. This paper reviews the recent research on pharmacological neuroenhancement in Europe, develops a clear definition of the substances used, and formulates recommendations for practitioners regarding how to react to requests for neuroenhancement drug prescriptions. We conclude that monitoring the future development of pharmacological neuroenhancement in Europe is important to provide effective preventive measures when required. Furthermore, substance use to cope with stress related to work or education should be studied in depth because it is likely more prevalent and dangerous than direct neuroenhancement.

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