Early maladaptive schemas in opiate and stimulant users

Objective: Early maladaptive schemas are valid representations of unpleasant childhood experiences that shape a person's viewpoints of the world, and lead to clinical symptoms such as depression, personality disorders, and substance abuse. Given the importance of this matter, we conducted a research on early maladaptive schemas in substance-abusers, to allow more appropriate preventive measures to be taken with a better understanding of the issue

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Methods: For this descriptive-comparative study, 115 patients [91 opiate users and 24 stimulant users] visiting drug addiction treatment centers were selected through convenience sampling from persons who were admitted to substance abuse treatment centers [Methadone Maintenance therapy centers], addiction treatment camps and self-help groups and Narcotics Anonymous [NA] of Yasuj. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Questionnaire and Young's Schema Questionnaire-Short Form [SQSF]. Data analysis was done with ANOVA and t-tests

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Results: The results showed a significant difference [P<0.05] between users of opiates and stimulants in terms of vulnerability to harm or illness, enmeshment, subjugation, emotional inhibition, entitlement, insufficient self-control/self-discipline, emotional deprivation, social isolation, defectiveness, failure/shame, and dependence. The average score of the stimulant-users was higher than that of opiateusers in all the schemas except for the dimensions of abandonment, mistrust, and unrelenting standards

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Discussion: Stimulant users have more early maladaptive schemas and are at a greater risk of psychological vulnerability. Early maladaptive schemas can be used by clinicians and researchers as a psychopathology and treatment method for substance dependence disorder