Transplantation, identity and drug addiction

This report is the follow-up of an earlier work in which the authors set forth some considerations on the psychopathological aspects connected with the transplantation of young Portuguese from the ex-colonies. The group studied was composed of 22 cases of drug addiction admitted to the Centre for Drug Research and Prophylaxis, Coimbra, over a specified period. A qualitative and quantitative change in drug consumption and an increase in delinquent behaviour were considered of particular interest and specifically linked to transplantation. An initial analysis indicated the enormous importance of the conflict of identity which existed in the transplantation situation which was subsequently explored in more depth. Transplantation put to the test the capacity to adapt and involved profound changes in defensive mechanisms, which under unfavourable social conditions took on a distinctly regressive character. In view of the age group of the cases under study (adolescents), the frustrations resulting from transplantation were thus added to a crisis of maturation which was already regressive in itself. Some clinical examples are provided.