title: Cognitive representations in alcohol and opiate abuse: the role of core beliefs.
abstract: There are clinical indications that alcohol and drug abuse are associated with unhealthy core beliefs (unconditional, schema-level representations). This study examined levels of such cognitions among four groups: alcohol abusers; opiate abusers; combined alcohol and opiate abusers; and a non-clinical group. Each patient completed the short version of the Young Schema Questionnaire, measuring levels of 15 pathological core beliefs. These schema-level cognitions were less healthy in the clinical groups than in the non-clinical group, particularly among individuals who abused alcohol. These findings provide preliminary support for the utility of therapies that address schema-level representations among substance abusers.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Dependency Unit, Hounslow & Spelthorne Community Mental Health Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brotchie
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Copello
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kidney
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires