Personality Characteristics of Adolescents with Hallucinogen, Methamphetamine, and Cannabis Dependence: A Comparative Study
Glen A. Palmer, Doyle D. Daiss
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse December 5, 2005 DOI: 10.1300/j029v15n01_03 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAdolescents in residential substance abuse treatment who reported hallucinogens, cannabis, or methamphetamine as their drug of choice showed some personality differences on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A). Those in the hallucinogen group scored significantly higher than the cannabis group on scales measuring hypochondriasis, schizophrenia, and bizarre mentation, as well as on the infrequency scale. The methamphetamine group's scores did not differ significantly from either of the other groups. The findings suggest that personality assessment may help differentiate adolescents dependent on different substances, though sample sizes were small.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional comparison Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Adolescents referred to a residential substance abuse treatment program with hallucinogen, cannabis, or methamphetamine dependence |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Methamphetamine Clinical psychology Psychiatry Personality |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key finding | Adolescents with hallucinogen dependence scored significantly higher than those with cannabis dependence on MMPI-A scales for hypochondriasis, schizophrenia, and bizarre mentation, while methamphetamine-dependent adolescents did not differ significantly from either group. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT A comparison of personality factors on scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) was conducted with a sample of adolescents referred to a residential substance abuse treatment program. A total of sixty adolescents identified with hallucinogen (n = 20), cannabis (n = 20), or methamphetamine (n = 20) as their drug of choice participated in the study. All adolescents met criteria for hallucinogen, cannabis, or methamphetamine dependence in accordance with their assigned groups. Adolescents were matched by age and gender. Primary analysis revealed significant differences between hallucinogen and cannabis groups on the Hypochondrias is (Hs), Schizophrenia (Sc), and Adolescent-Bizarre Mentation (A-biz) scales. Post hoc analyses on remaining Clinical, Content, and Validity scales revealed significant differences between hallucinogen and cannabis groups on the Infrequency (F) scale. Scores on all scales of the methamphetamine group were not significantly different from scale scores on the cannabis or hallucinogen groups. Although sample sizes were small, this is one of the first studies to utilize personality assessment in order to differentiate personality characteristics of adolescents who report hallucinogen (i.e., psilocybin mushroom), cannabis, or methamphetamine as drug of choice. KEYWORDS: HallucinogenscannabismethamphetamineMMPI-A