PERSONALITY AND DRUG PREFERENCES IN NORMAL VOLUNTEERS

This study examined the relationship between drug preferences as measu red in a laboratory-based choice procedure and measures of personality and attitudes toward drugs. Healthy volunteers participated in labora tory-based double-blind studies measuring preference for ethanol or di azepam vs placebo. Frequency of drug choice was examined in relation t o subjects' scores on personality questionnaires. Drug choice was not related to any of the personality measures examined. Personality score s were, however, related to both gender and habitual drug use. These d ata suggest that personality does not strongly influence responses to single doses of drugs as assessed under controlled conditions. Persona lity may, nevertheless, affect drug use in natural settings via other mechanisms (e.g., interacting with psychosocial variables).