The tridimensional personality of male heroin users treated with methadone in Taiwan

Wei-Lieh Huang; Li-Ren Chang; Ying-Zai Chen; Hung-Chieh Wu Chang; Ming H Hsieh; Chein-Heng Lin; Yu-Hsuan Lin

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.018

The tridimensional personality of male heroin users treated with methadone in Taiwan

Compr Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;55(5):1220-6. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.018. Epub 2014 Mar 4.

Authors

Wei-Lieh Huang¹, Li-Ren Chang², Ying-Zai Chen³, Hung-Chieh Wu Chang³, Ming H Hsieh⁴, Chein-Heng Lin⁵, Yu-Hsuan Lin⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: yuhsuanmed@gmail.com.

PMID: 24666715
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.018

Abstract

It was our assumption that male heroin users have the personality traits of high impulsivity and low social interaction. Compliance regarding methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is hypothesized to be related to personality features. We recruited 43 patients that had been receiving MMT and 43 healthy volunteers. All participants completed a Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Information related to the Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) was gathered from the heroin group. The personality dimensions in the heroin user group and the control group were compared. We further investigated the association between TPQ and OTI. The heroin group presented with lower reward dependence than the control group. Regarding sub-dimensions, heroin users showed higher impulsivity and fatigability, and lower exploratory excitability and social dependence. The explosive (borderline) pattern was more common among the heroin users. The odds ratio of explosive pattern developing to heroin dependence was 4.19. Q scores of heroin use and the maximal methadone dose were associated with persistence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Case-Control Studies
Heroin Dependence / drug therapy*
Heroin Dependence / psychology*
Humans
Male
Medication Adherence / psychology*
Methadone / administration & dosage*
Personality Disorders / psychology*
Personality Inventory
Taiwan

Substances

Methadone