Citation

Maremmani AGI, Rocca FD, Bacciardi S, Miccoli M, Maremmani I. Heroin Addict. Relat. Clin. Probl. 2021; 23(5): 75-80.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association, Publisher Pacini Editore)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Background. In the present study, which continues our programme of five-dimension psychopathology of addiction validation, we have investigated a sample of Heroin Use Disorder (HUD) patients, using SCL-90 and the Buss-Durke Inventory to provide a more precise definition of the psychopathological structure of HUD patients in terms of aggressive behaviour.

METHODS. Two hundred and forty-two patients were recruited; all of them had received a diagnosis of HUD, according to DSM-5 criteria. Their age was 26.01±4.4 years (age range: 16-42). Of the 242 study participants, 157 (64.9%) were males. We studied correlations between BDI and SCL-90 at the univariate and multivariate canonical correlation analysis to identify and measure the associations that may connect the two separate sets of variables.

RESULTS. Recruited patients showed a severe drug addiction history and had a psychopathology and aggressive behaviour severity very similar to those of HUD patients entering treatment. Two different psychopathological profiles, both positively correlated with aggressive behaviour, were found. In the first, where Violence/Suicide is inversely correlated with the Panic Anxiety dimension, violent behaviour (Assault) is directly correlated with Violence/Suicide. Conversely, when Violence/Suicide is directly correlated with Panic Anxiety, this psychopathological cluster also includes opioid withdrawal symptoms and the tendency to a negative affect expressed both in the style, including arguing, shouting, screaming and the content of speech, including threats, curses, and being overcritical (Verbal Aggression). This psychopathological/ behavioural syndrome is indirectly correlated with a covert form of aggressive behaviour marked out by Resentment, Suspiciousness, Worthlessness/Being Trapped and Sensitivity/Psychoticism symptomatology.

CONCLUSIONS. Violence/ Suicide dimension was confirmed to have a closer relationship with violent behaviour than with suicidality proneness. The correlation between Worthlessness/Being Trapped and Sensitivity/Psychoticism appears to be confirmed again by a questionnaire on aggressive behaviour. © 2021, Pacini Editore S.p.A./AU-CNS. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; violence; suicide; female; male; psychotherapy; aggression; anxiety; suicidal behavior; addiction; risk factor; major clinical study; mental disease; questionnaire; symptomatology; psychiatrist; psychologic assessment; assault; hostility; psychometry; irritability; defense mechanism; residential care; correlation analysis; Article; verbal hostility; Symptom Checklist 90; suspiciousness; convergent validity; DSM-5; physical violence; Buss Durke Inventory; Drug Addiction History Questionnaire; Five-dimension psychopathology of addiction; incivility; questionnaire on aggressive behaviour