Types of self-reported psychopathology in Dutch and American heroin addicts

One-hundred Dutch and 100 American heroin addicts receiving methadone were administered the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), and a Modal Profile Analysis was performed to determine whether or not the mean profiles of the nine SCL-90 subscales were comparable for these two White male samples. Three profile-shape components correctly classified over 85% of both groups and reflected (1) Anxious-depressed, (2) Hostile and (3) Paranoid syndromes. The relationships of the SCL-90 profiles to selected psychosocial characteristics were also studied. For example, marijuana use was associated with the Paranoid shape component in both samples. The implications of these SCL-90 profiles for identifying common aspects of self-reported psychopathology in both Dutch and American heroin addicts were discussed.