G. Buelacasal et al., DIFFERENCES IN CIRCADIAN RHYTHMICITY IN OPIOID ADDICTS AND ABSTINENT SUBJECTS, Revista mexicana de psicologia, 15(1), 1998, pp. 41-47
The research reported in the present paper analyzes the circadian rhyt
hmicity (morning-afternoon patterns) in relation to abstinence and opi
oid use (heroin and methadone). Participants were 35 subjects with an
abuse history of at least six years, and a mean age of 25.4 years. At
the time of the study 19 participants were abstinent while the other 1
6 continued using opioids. Results revealed differences between the tw
o groups. Abstinent participants showed an intermediate circadian patt
ern while the users were classified as vespertinal. Data confirmed fin
dings of numerous studies conducted on morning-afternoon patterns, psy
chotropic drug use and healthy lifestyles, such as those reported by A
dan (1994) and by Tankova, Adan & Buela-Casal (1994). Finally some con
siderations analyze the role of lifestyles and rhythmicity on the reha
bilitation of opioid abusers.