title: Self-deception as a mechanism for the maintenance of drug addiction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was aimed at: (i) examining levels of self-deception in substance dependent individuals following addiction treatment, and (ii) examining the association between participants&rsquo; levels of self-deception and (a) personality disorders, (b) addiction-related beliefs, (c) duration of abstinence, and (d) estimates of craving.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered self-report questionnaires of self-deception and mixtification, and core beliefs related to addiction and craving. The sample comprised 79 outpatients who were consecutively recruited at the Centro Provincial de Drogodependencias in Granada: 87.3% were males and the mean age was 37.68 years old. Thirty-four percent of participants were diagnosed with comorbid personality disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that individuals with substance dependence exhibit elevated scores of self-deception, particularly in the domains of active denial, selective amnesia, projection, and confabulation. Individuals with comorbid personality disorders display greater levels of self-deception compared to individuals without dual diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moreover, there is a significant association between levels of self-deception and addiction-related beliefs and craving. In addition, there is a negative association between levels of self-deception and duration of abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Granada.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-González
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vilar López
authors.forename: Elisardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Becoña Iglesias
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdejo-García
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D066249:Craving; D008192:Deception; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires