Personality Traits and Attitudes Towards Addiction in Patients Dependent on Synthetic Cathinones

Relevance . Despite the high prevalence of synthetic cathinones (SC) dependence, its clinical and psychological aspects remain insufficiently studied. The depth and nature of personality abnormalities associated with this type of addiction, as well as the relationship between personality characteristics and attitudes toward the disorder and rehabilitation, remain unclear. Objective . To identify personality characteristics of patients with synthetic cathinone dependence undergoing rehabilitation and examine their relationship with attitudes toward addiction. Material and methods . The study included 31 patients diagnosed with synthetic cathinone dependence who were undergoing rehabilitation. The control group consisted of 31 healthy respondents. The psychological assessment included an interview, the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2), and a sentence completion task addressing attitudes toward addiction. Results of the study and discussion . It was revealed that patients dependent on SC are characterized by low responsibility (Me = 3.25 and 4.00; p < 0.001) and high emotional instability (Me = 3.50 and 2.75; p = 0.001). A comparison of personality characteristics in patients with different addiction attitudes revealed that a focus on positive emotions from the drug and an unwillingness to overcome cravings, even if formally acknowledged, are more characteristic of patients with negative emotionality, introversion, and low responsibility. Conclusion . Patients with synthetic cathinone dependence are characterized by low responsibility and high emotional instability. Negative emotionality, introversion, and low responsibility are associated with attitudes that may impede the rehabilitation process.