PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS OF COCAINE AND ALCOHOL ABUSERS - MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT

Although there is extensive literature describing the characteristics of individuals entering treatment for alcoholism, few research reports are available describing the personality characteristics of individua ls addicted to cocaine. Forty-four matched patient pairs, one member o f each pair who abused cocaine and the other alcohol, were compared on the basis of their Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles. The subjects were matched on the basis of age, sex, and rac e from a larger population entering an inpatient addiction treatment c enter. Statistical analysis revealed more similarities than difference s between the two groups, with the average profile type for both cocai ne and alcohol abusers being 4-2. These results are discussed in the c ontext of previous reports of psychopathology among cocaine abusers an d personality theories of drug choice. The number of different code ty pes within each substance abuse group is also reported and the concept of profile heterogeneity supported. Profile subtypes among cocaine pa tients are described clinically along with their implications for trea tment.