Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems 2012;
14(2):5-18
Ethnicity and drug addiction. A comparison
between Italian and Slovenian heroin addicts
Corresponding author: Icro Maremmani,
MD; Vincent P. Dole Dual Diagnosis Unit, Santa Chiara
University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 67
56100 PISA, Italy, EU. Phone +39 0584 790073 Fax +39 0584 72081 E-Mail:
maremman@med.unipi.it
Summary: We aimed to study the impact of ethnicity on the
clinical addiction history of heroin addicts belonging to two closely
interrelated racial groups (213 Italian and 591 Slovenian) characterized by
different cultural, historical and political features. The results of this
study show that ethnicity tends to influence the clinical addiction history of
Italian and Slovenian heroin addicts. Italians are, more frequently, stable
users or else are involved in the revolving door stage, or are diagnosed more
frequently as ‘dual diagnosis’. Slovenians are, more
frequently, bipolar and polyabuser patients with a
daily use of heroin, showing only minor social adjustment. These differences
appear to be largely mediated by the various organizations providing medical
services for addiction treatment in Italy and in Slovenia.
Publication Type: Regular article
Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems 2012;
14(2):19-34
The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) clinical interview:
New evidence of reliability and validity
González-Saiz F., García-Valderrama T.
Corresponding author: Francisco González-Saiz,
Avda. Libertad nº 48. Pinar
Hondo. Ctra. Puerto Sherry, 11500 - Puerto de Santa María.
Cádiz.
SPAIN.
E-mail: pacogonzalez@comcadiz.com;
pacogonzalez62@hotmail.com
Summary: The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) is a semistructured clinical interview designed by Shane Darke et al., to measure self-reported treatment outcomes
of opioid users. It consists of six independent outcome domains. The domains
chosen to reflect the dimensions of treatment outcomes were: Drug use, HIV Risk-taking
Behaviour, Social Functioning, Criminality, Health, and Psychological
Adjustment. The aim of this work is to analyze the internal structure and
reliability of the Spanish version of this instrument, as well as to contribute
evidence of its concurrent validity with regard to measures of global
functioning such as the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) of the
fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-IV). The study was carried out with a total sample of 105 patients with
substance dependence who were being treated in two
centres for drug addictions. Test-retest and inter-rater
reliability were both very high (with mean intraclass
correlation coefficient [ICC] values for the two scores of .89 and .88,
respectively). The internal consistency values were generally moderately high,
and similar to those observed by other authors in comparable studies. Principal
component analysis (PCA) of each one of the OTI scales reveals structures made
up of several factors. The differences between this and other studies and the
practical applications of this well-known instrument are discussed.
Publication Type: Regular article
Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems 2012;
14(2):35-48
Khodarahimi S., Branch E.
Corresponding author: Siamak
Kodarahimi, Post Doctorate Fellowship of Psychology
and Clinical Psychologist PhD; Eghlid Branch-Islamic
Azad University, Eghlid, Fars Province, Iran, E-Mail:
khodarahimi@yahoo.com
Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects
of psychopathology and personality on opiate substance abuse, and also to investigate
the roles of marital status, income, educational level, and familial history of
drug abuse and family size, as well as ethnicity, in determining substance
abuse. There were 150 young adult male participants divided into three groups;
these comprised twelve-step treatment programme abstainers, opiate addicts and
normal individuals, respectively. A demographic questionnaire, the SCL-90-R,
and the NEO PI-R were used in this study. The study data demonstrated
significantly positive and negative correlations between the Neuroticism and
Extraversion dimensions of personality and all indices of psychopathology.
Patients with opiate use had significantly higher levels of psychopathology
than the other two groups. The twelve-step self-treatment programme significantly
lowered psychopathology in patients with opiate abuse. In addition, normal
individuals had a significantly lower level of Neuroticism and higher levels of
Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness than either opiates
abusers or abstainers. Lastly, the results of the study indicated the effects
of familial history of substance abuse and family size on prospective drug
abuse.
Publication Type: Regular Article
Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems 2012;
14(2):49-56
Dell'Osso L., Carmassi
C., Stratta P., Rossi A.
Corresponding author: Claudia Carmassi,
M.D., Ph.D., Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of
Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy, Tel: +39 050 2219766, Fax: +39 050
2219787, Email: ccarmassi@gmail.com
Summary: Not Available
Publication Type: Letter to the Editor
Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems 2012;
14(2):57-58
Reduction of psychotic symptoms during the use of
exogenous opiates
Ros Cucurull E., Miquel
L., Quesada Franco M., Brugue M. C.
Corresponding author: Dr. Elena Ros
Cucurull, Department of Psychiatry, Vall Hebron University Hospital, Passeig
de la Vall d’Hebron
119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
Phone number: + 34 93 4894294/ 610219165; Fax number:
+ 34 93 489 45 87; Email: elenaroscucurull@gmail.com
Summary: Not available
Publication Type: Letter to the Editor
Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems 2012;
14(2):59-62
Clinic and social aspects of unlawful activities of
persons with psychoactive substance dependence
Klimenko T., Kozlov
A., Bukhanovsky A.
Corresponding author: Tatyana Klimenko
V.P. Serbsky State Scientific Center
for Social and Forensic Psychiatry, Moscow, Russia
Summary: Not available
Publication Type: Letter to the Editor