Citation

Lejoyeux M. Med. Sci. 2004; 20(12): 1140-1144.

Vernacular Title

Alcoolodependance, temperament et personnalite.

Affiliation

Service de psychiatrie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 46, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France. michel.lejoyeux@bch.ap-hop-paris.fr

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, EDK)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15581470

Abstract

This review focuses on classical and recent research work in the field of alcohol dependence. Data from psychopathological studies trying to determine a "pre-addictive" personality are exposed. More recent studies assess personality disorders and dimensions of temperament associated to alcohol dependence. Sensation seeking, antisocial personality and novelty seeking appear as the main psychological parameters involved in dependence. Sensation seeking is a dimension of personality often associated to behavioral dependence. Sensation seeking is assessed with a five-component scale including general factor, thrill and adventure seeking, experience-seeking, disinhibition, and boredom susceptibility. Patients presenting alcohol dependence have a higher level of sensation seeking. Neurophysiological and genetic studies try to correlate these personality features to biological parameters. Preliminary results of these works are presented and discussed.