The development of a psychological theory of needle fixation

Abstract

Aim: This article describes the development and validation of a psychological theory of needle fixation. Design: Participants were interviewed about their injecting behavior using a semi-structured interview paying particular attention to those behaviors likely to be associated with needle fixation. A battery of psychometric tests was then administered to validate the differentiation of the two groups. Participants: Participants were 33 injecting drug users recruited in Cardiff and the surrounding area. Measurements: In addition to the semi-structured interview three psychometric tests were used: the needle fixation profile, the Leeds addiction scale, and the Padua scale to measure obsessive-compulsive traits. Findings: The interviews successfully identified those injectors with needle fixation and the components of this. The psychometric tests indicated the differences between the two groups with regard to needle fixation. The results also showed that some obsessive-compulsive traits were found in those with a needle fixation. Conclusions: The results showed that there are differences between those with a needle fixation and other injectors. This identification of the components of needle fixation has led to the development of a psychological theory of the phenomenon.

Keywords:

• Needle fixation
• compulsive injecting
• psychological theory
• injecting druguse
• barriers to treatment

Notes

¹Note that the final version of the NEFPRO is as appears in Pates et al. (2009). It was reduced to a 10 item questionnaire as a result of the analysis of this research.