Psychometric comparisons of sociopathic and psychopathological behaviors of alcoholics and drug abusers versus a low drug use control population.
Scales derived from a self-administered questionnaire were used to assess the degree of sociopathy, alcohol/drug abuse, low moods, and sleep disturbances in 53 outpatient alcoholics, 11 prisoner-addicts, and 54 controls. Separate preadult and adult scales assessed pre- and postaddiction behaviors. Methodology differs from previous studies in that scaling permitted assessment of sociopathy, alcoholism, and drug abuse as graded phenomena; and drug scoring, as a function of number, frequency, and seriousness, was established prior to data collection. Data provide support for an affective-antisocial spectrum disorder characterized by early onset, low moods, and alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and/or antisocial behaviors.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011932:Reading; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires