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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2021, 23, N6 (pages: 59 - 64)

Convergent validity of five-dimension psychopathology of Addiction: Relationships with Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire

Maremmani A.G.I., Della Rocca F., Bacciardi S., Miccoli M., and Maremmani I.

Summary: Background: Continuing the validation process of our five-dimension psychopathology of addiction (5D-SCL90), in the present study, we have investigated, at treatment entry, a sample of Heroin Use Disorder (HUD) patients using SCL90 and the Tridimensional Personality Inventory (TPQ) to characterise the psychopathological structure of HUD patients in terms of temperamental aspects. Methods: Ninety-two patients, with a diagnosis of HUD, according to DSM-5 criteria, 26.05±4.5-year-old (18-37 ranging), 65 (70.7%) being males, were included in the study. We tested the correlations between TPQ and SCL90 at the univariate and multivariate levels (non-linear canonical correlation analysis) to recognise and assess the associations that may link the two separate sets of variables. Results: At the univariate level, no correlations were found between 5D-SCL90 and Novelty Seeking (NS) dimension. Likewise, Persistence (P) and 5D-SCL90 did not show significant correlations. On the contrary, Harm Avoidance (HA) showed significant positive correlations with Violence/Suicide (V/S), Somatic Symptoms (SS), Sensitivity/Psychoticism (S/P) and Worthlessness/Being Trapped (W/BT). Reward Dependence (RD) was negatively correlated with SS, V/S, W/BT, and Panic Anxiety (PA). At multivariate level, the two separate sets of variables did not show a significant association (Wilks Statistic = 0.70; F = 1.51; p = 0.075). Conclusions: In heroin addicts at treatment entry, psychopathology of addiction seems unrelated to NS, but its severity influences a high HA and a low RD.