https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3423-9509
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Abstract
The experience of traumatic events in childhood is an important risk factor for the initiation and continuation of polysubstance use. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of DSM-5 level of personality functioning and maladaptive personality traits in the relationship between traumatic life events and polysubstance use. We used a mixed sample (N = 290; Mage = 40; SDage = 12.26; 75.2% males) of patients with substance use disorder (SUD; including 90 mono-drug users and 113 polysubstance users) and non-users (including 87 university students) recruited using convenience sampling method from harm reduction-oriented drug treatment centers and universities respectively in Tehran, Iran. Participants completed the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form, the Personality Inventory for DSM 5-Brief Form, and the Life Events Checklist-Revised. The results of structural equation modeling showed that DSM-5 level of personality functioning and maladaptive personality traits partially mediated the relationship between traumatic life events and polysubstance use. Experiencing traumatic events may contribute to the risk of polysubstance use through the effect of global personality dysfunction and specific personality traits. This proposed mediational model must be replicated using a longitudinal design across different populations.
Availability of Data and Material
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declared no conflicts of interest concerning the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Consent to Participate
Written consent was obtained from all participants who participated in this study.
Ethics Approval
Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee of the Iran University of Medical Sciences (95-02-185-28690). The procedures used in this study also adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Author Notes
Mahdi Amini, is an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. As a member of the addiction department, his research mainly focuses on addiction, personality psychopathology, and emotion regulation.
Mohammad A. Abdolahpur, is a clinical psychologist focusing on the assessment and treatment of personality pathology in mental health care. His major research interest is the clinical operationalization and utility of the ICD-11 classification of personality disorders.
Bo Bach is a senior research associate at the Center for Personality Disorder Research (CPDR) focusing mainly on the ICD-11 classification of personality disorders including the development of assessment procedures, implementation, and clinical guidelines.
Mohammad Darharaj is a Ph.D. candidate in addiction studies at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. His research interests include examining risks and protective factors of drug use and developing treatment practices for patients with substance use disorder.
Iman Hamraz is a biostatistician who graduated from the Arak University of Medical Sciences. His research interests include psychological surveys as well as machine learning methods in this field.
Arash Javaheri, a Ph.D. graduate of addiction studies from Iran University of Medical Sciences, is currently focusing on the assessment and treatment of addictive behaviors particularly sex addiction and gambling.
Mozhgan Lotfi is an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. Her research interests include mental health, personality psychopathology, and psychotherapy practice for patients with personality disorders.