Normal and pathological personality characteristics in subtypes of drug addicts undergoing treatment

Abstract

This study examines the differences in normal and pathological personality that appear in a sample of drug addicts empirically classified into two types of consumers, called Type A (functional) and Type B (chronic). An assessment protocol that comprised the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory, reduced (NEO-FFI), and the International Personality Disorder Examination was administered to 533 drug addicts of both sexes, aged between 17 and 60 years. The results showed that the functional consumers (Type A) had higher scores in extraversion and agreeableness than the chronic consumers (Type B), and the latter had higher scores in schizoid and dysocial personality disorder traits. Based on the differences in normal and pathological personality traits of both typologies, we determined some aspects about the diagnosis, treatment choice, and therapeutic prognosis that allow a better approach to the problem of drug addiction.