Personality Profile and Severity of Alcohol Use in Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study from Central Rural India

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol dependence syndrome is most prevalent disorder and significant public health problem all over the world [1]. Non-adaptive personality traits may influence pathogenesis, clinical course, treatment outcome and relapse in alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS). Aim: To assess the personality traits on 16 PF of alcohol dependent individuals, to determine its association with severity of alcohol use and to find factors affecting severity of ADS. Methodology: Total 100 patients of ADS were selected from psychiatry unit of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe) Wardha, Maharashtra. Data was collected through socio-demographic proforma, severity of alcohol dependence questionnaire and 16 personality factor (16 PF) inventory. Results: Most of the patients scored high on personality traits such as warmth (56%), dominance (67%), social boldness (56%), sensitivity (70%), vigilance (77%), openness to change (65%) and perfectionism (52%) while they scored low on factors liveliness (35%) and privateness (50%). Prevalence of ADS severity was found to be 10% (mild), 38% (moderate) and 52% (severe) respectively. Factors such as emotional stability (0.026) and vigilance (0.019) were found to be significantly associated with severity of ADS. On other hand, factors emotional stability and perfectionism were found to affect severity on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: This study suggests that personality factors affect the severity of alcohol use and might be associated with poor treatment outcome. Hence, personality traits need to be addressed by clinicians during management to improve outcome.