[Personality changes in opioid-dependent subjects in a methadone maintenance treatment program].

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Addiction Medicine

Context:

• Opioid dependence is frequently associated with personality disorders, including antisocial personality disorder (APD).
• Previous research indicates that certain personality traits may improve with treatment, but findings are inconsistent.
• A prior study identified a low prevalence of APD in a French opioid-dependent population, prompting further investigation into personality traits.

Purpose:

• To evaluate changes in personality traits among opioid-dependent individuals undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).
• To compare personality profiles of opioid-dependent individuals with a general population reference group.
• To explore the relationship between personality traits, treatment duration, and history of suicide attempts.

Summary:

• 134 opioid-dependent subjects completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) at intake, with 60 finishing 12 months of MMT.
• Significant decreases in Neuroticism (N) and Extraversion-introversion (E) scores were observed after 12 months of MMT.
• Opioid addicts exhibited higher N and E scores compared to French normal controls; N scores normalized during treatment, while E scores improved later.

Impact:

• MMT can lead to significant improvements in specific personality dimensions (Neuroticism and Extraversion) in opioid-dependent patients.
• Opioid addicts are primarily distinguished from the general population by elevated Neuroticism scores.
• The EPI did not effectively differentiate between patients who completed 12 months of treatment and those who dropped out. Higher Extraversion scores in patients with a history of suicide attempts may indicate increased impulsivity.