Psychological and psychiatric characterization of various groups of drugs users

Abstract

Aim. We aimed to assess the differences among various groups of drugs users, especially in the psychiatric and psychological domains. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study was carried out in collaboration with C.E.T.T.T `St. Stelian` Institute from Bucharest. There were analyzed the medical records of 604 hospitalized patients with heroin or polydrug addiction. Results. Significant differences in diagnosis at submission among groups were outlined (personality and behavior disorders, p-value = .04298, psychotic disorders, p-value = .004274, schizophrenia, p-value = .000141) as well as significant differences among psychiatric parameters: perception (legal highs, opiates), attention (cannabis), consciousness (legal highs), thinking (legal highs), and, instinctive life (legal highs). Conclusions. Personality and behavioral disorders have been particularly linked to opiate use, the psychotic disorder was related to cannabis and legal highs intake, while schizophrenia was related to legal highs intake.

Keywords

• new psychoactive substances
• legal highs
• personality changes
• psychiatric
• psychological