Personality profiles in substance use disorders: Do they differ in clinical symptomatology, personality disorders and coping?

• Published in: Personality and individual differences 2018-09, Vol.131, p.61-66
• Main Authors: Santens, E., Claes, L., Dierckx, E., Luyckx, K., Peuskens, H., Dom, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activation; Behavior; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Computerization; Coping; Drug abuse; Effortful control; Hospitalization; Inhibition; Medical treatment; Personality; Personality disorders; Questionnaires; Reactivity; Self regulation; Self report; Substance use disorder; Temperament; Treatment programs
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.04.018

We explored whether it is possible to establish subgroups of patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) based on differences in Behavioral Activation System Reactivity (BAS), Behavioral Inhibition System Reactivity (BIS) and Effortful control (EC). Further, we investigated if the identified subgroups differ on clinical symptoms, personality disorders and coping styles. Computerized self-report questionnaires were administered to 712 adult patients admitted to a specialized inpatient treatment program for SUDs. Based on cluster analysis we found three clusters: a “Resilient”, an “Anxious” and a “Reward Sensitive” cluster. The Anxious cluster showed the highest scores on each of the clinical symptoms, the Resilient cluster consistently displayed the lowest scores, and the Reward-Sensitive cluster generally scored in-between. •Measures of reactive (BIS/BAS) and self-regulatory (EC) temperament were combined.•Cluster analysis on BIS/BAS and EC resulted in a solution with three clusters.•A resilient, an anxious and a reward-sensitive cluster were found.•Self-report questionnaires can be used to distinguish clinically relevant subgroups.