Temperamente y carácter en adictos a cocaína y a opiáceos

Abstract

The study was established to investigate the personality dimensions of a sample of substance dependents (DSM-IV) undergoing rehabilitation treatment using the Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Comparison of the results with those of a control group extracted from the general population confirmed that there were significant differences between the personality features in both the opiate and cocaine subgroups, compared with those from the general population. Comparing the control group with the heroin dependents, the results showed lower scores on the scales for reward dependence (RD), self-directedness (SD) and Cooperation (C), than the control group. Significant divergences were also found on three of the four harm avoidance scales (↑HA1; ↓HA2; ↑ HA3) and on one of the novelty seeking scales (↑NS3). In the case of the group of cocaine dependents, there was a higher level of novelty seeking but lower levels of reward dependency (RD), self-directedness (SD) and cooperation. The results of one of the harm avoidance subscales (↓HA2) were also significant. Finally, comparing the cocaine dependents and the heroin dependents, it was found that they differed significantly on two of the temperament subscales, one forming part of novelty seeking (NS4) and the other part of harm avoidance (HA3).