Comparison of temperament and character personality traits in opiate and stimulant addicts

Background: Phenomenon of addiction as one of the social problems has a high prevalence, especially among youth. The aim of the present study was to compare personality traits based on the temperament and character inventory in opiate and stimulant addicts in Tehran. Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, ۶۰ male addicts (۳۰ opiate and ۳۰ stimu-lant addicts) who referred to addiction treatment centers in the suburbs of Tehran were selected through convenience sampling method and were studied using Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The participants were sorted according to their age and education. Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to harm avoidance, reward dependence, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence traits. Thus, opiate ad-dicts had higher levels of harm avoidance, reward dependence, and cooperativeness, and stim-ulant addicts had higher levels of self-transcendence. The significance level was set at P<۰.۰۱. Conclusion: The obtained results showed that there was a significant difference between opi-ate and stimulant addicts. Opiate addicts gained higher scores, compared with stimulant ad-dicts, in Temperament and Character Inventory variables. The obtained results also showed that stimulant addicts were suffering from more severe disorders than opiate addicts. Based on the means of the values of the TCI, personality traits reflecting personality disorders are detect-able and predictable in substance abusers. This new understanding is important in the preven-tion and treatment of addiction.

Keywords:

Addict , Character , Opiate , Personality , Stimulant , Temperament