PERSONALITY-DISORDER AND DRUG-USE - A REVIEW

Citation
N. Seivewright et C. Daly, PERSONALITY-DISORDER AND DRUG-USE - A REVIEW, Drug and alcohol review, 16(3), 1997, pp. 235-250
Citations number
110
Categorie Soggetti
Substance Abuse
Journal title
ISSN journal
09595236
Volume
16
Issue
3
Year of publication
1997
Pages
235 - 250
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-5236(1997)16:3<235:PAD-AR>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
The concept of personality disorder (PD) is more relevant in the clini cal management of drug users than other approaches to personality asse ssment. A problem in diagnosis is separating behaviours inherent in th e activity of drug misuse from true evidence of PD, especially the ant i-social type (ASPD), and rating instruments vary in their ability to do this. Nevertheless, the available evidence suggests that approximat ely two-thirds of drug users in treatment have PD, with ASPD the most common. Studies have mainly been in opiate users, while the prevalence of PD may be lower across the range of drugs, and in non-treatment se ttings. PD has been found to be associated with a range of complicatio ns and adverse outcomes in drug use, including psychiatric problems, p oor social functioning, dropout from treatment, and increased HIV risk behaviours and infection rates. Outcomes for ASPD individuals in meth adone maintenance treatment appear reasonable, however, and it may be that early recourse to such treatment is the most practical option for many PD opiate users, a potential criticism being that this does not directly address the PD problems.