DEVELOPING A DIAGNOSTIC-THERAPEUTIC INSTRUMENT TO IDENTIFY PERSONALITY AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TYPES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AND PROVIDING A COMBINATION THERAPY FOR EACH DIAGNOSIS

Background and Aim : Analytical and follow-up studies are a good evidence of a variety of symptoms and needs among substance abusers. Accordingly, different treatments and interventions with regard to the specific damage diagnosed should be applied. This study aims to develop a diagnostic-therapeutic instrument to identify the personality and physiological types of substance abusers and to provide a combination therapy for each diagnosis.Methods : This study is a combined-style research to develop an instrument. The components and indicators of the questionnaire were initially identified and evaluated in quantitative and qualitative formats. For the first dimension, components went through a factor analysis: 86 articles were analyzed and 42 individuals with a history of substance abuse (that differed in terms of physical, economic, social, structural, educational, characteristics) were interviewed. Finally, a set of basic components were identified and analyzed and a diagnostic questionnaire based on psychometric properties was developed. Results : The results can be considered in two areas: (1) validation and standardization based on the prototype version is an evidence of the content validity and the proper structure of this research which is confirmed through Cronbach s alpha (0.922), besides other optimal psychometric properties. In this regard, based on factor analysis and identified components, three different physiological structures and six different personality patterns were developed. Based on the components and the designed model, nine interventional and responsive approaches were developed for initial and corrective treatment for different types.Conclusion : Additional studies and re-implementation of the instrument on a different population in another environment confirmed the nine physiological and personality types and the applied treatment. Accordingly, the identified types and the recruited therapeutic approach are a comprehensive, targeted and diversified program based on the diagnostic and treatment requirements of different substance abusers.

Keywords:

Construction and standardization , addiction treatment , therapeutic-diagnostic approach , physiological and personality types