Exploring Personality and Readiness to Change in Patients With Substance Use Disorders With and Without ADHD.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Substance use disorders (SUD) are frequently comorbid with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Understanding the distinct personality traits and readiness for change in these comorbid populations is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in personality and readiness to change between SUD patients with and without ADHD.
• To inform the development of differentiated treatment strategies for comorbid SUD and ADHD.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study of 103 SUD patients (2010-2012) divided into SUD + ADHD and SUD - ADHD groups.
• Assessment of personality using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).
• Evaluation of readiness to change with the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (TCSES).

Main Results:

• SUD + ADHD patients exhibited significantly higher eagerness to effort (p = .008) and ambition (p = .025) compared to SUD - ADHD patients.
• SUD - ADHD patients reported greater fear of uncertainty (p < .000).
• SUD + ADHD patients were younger (p = .019), more often had amphetamine addiction (p = .022), and showed differences in self-forgetfulness and recognition scores.

Conclusions:

• Distinct personality profiles and readiness to change exist between SUD patients with and without ADHD.
• These differences necessitate the implementation of individualized treatment approaches for patients with comorbid SUD and ADHD.