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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2020, 22, N6 (pages: 49 - 56)

Is the Psychopathology Specific of Substance Use Disorder Able to Differentiate Problematic and Non-Problematic Recreational Drinkers?

Pagni L., Conversano C., Miccoli M., Maremmani A.G.I., Pani P.P., and Maremmani I.

Summary: Background: Continuing the validation process of the five psychopathological dimensions that we have considered specific to Substance Use Disorders (SUD), we tested the possible correlations between them and the severity of alcohol craving, as well as their ability to differentiate problematic from non-problematic recreational drinkers, all of whom were recruited during a private meeting at the Leningrad Café, in Pisa, Italy. Methods: To evaluate alcohol craving we used the ACS (Alcohol Craving Scale). Problematic use of alcohol was investigated by means of AUDIT, and symptoms of psychopathology were assessed by using the SCL-90 Self-Report Symptom Inventory. Gender and age were recorded for every single case. Results: Alcohol craving was positively correlated with the severity of all psychopathological dimensions except for Panic Anxiety (PA). Recreational drinkers showed significantly lower severity of psychopathological symptoms in Worthlessness/Being Trapped (W/BT), Somatic Symptoms (SS), Sensitivity/Psychoticism (S/P), and Violence/Suicide (V/S) dimensions. No differences were observed with PA symptomatology. Conversely, problematic recreational drinkers obtained a statistically higher severity regarding W/BT and S/P dimensions and comparable severity in the other psychopathological dimensions. Alcohol cravings were more severe in problematic recreational drinkers. W/BT and V/S dimensions took a more severe form in problematic recreational drinkers and clear differentiation between the groups was possible in these cases. Psychopathological typologies were not discriminating. Conclusions: The psychopathology specific to SUD is correlated with alcohol craving in recreational drinkers, and is able to differentiate problematic from non-problematic recreational drinkers, so providing further evidence of its specificity.