CROSS-VALIDATION OF A HEROIN ADDICTION SCALE FROM THE MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY

• NCJ Number: 48898
• Journal: Journal of Psychology Volume: 81 Issue: 2 Dated: (1972) Pages: 263-268
• Author(s): C SHEPPARD; E RICCA; J FRACCHIA; N ROSENBERG; S MERLIS
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Journal Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED HEROIN ADDITION SCALE (HE) IS VALIDATED ON A SAMPLE OF 274 MALE NARCOTIC ADDICTS AND IS COMPARED WITH RESULTS FROM TWO SAMPLES OF ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS. IT APPEARS TO HAVE GOOD PREDICTIVE VALUE.

Abstract

THE HE SCALE WAS GLEANED FROM THE MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY. IT CONTAINS 57 ITEMS WHICH SUCCESSFULLY DISCRIMINATED MALE ADOLESCENT AND ADULT HEROIN ADDICTS FROM A SAMPLE OF INMATES FROM THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHO WERE SIMILAR IN AGE BUT HAD NO HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE. THIS STUDY WAS MADE TO FURTHER VALIDATE THE SCALE, USING 274 MALE ADDICTS COMMITTED TO CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y., STATE HOSPITAL. IN ADDITION, ALCOHOLIC DATA WERE DERIVED FROM 111 MALE VETERANS ADMITTED TO THE FORT MEADE, S. DAK., ALCOHOLIC TREATMENT UNIT AND 117 ADMITTED TO RUSK STATE HOSPITAL, TEXAS. THESE MEN REPRESENTED A CONTINUUM FROM MODERATE DRINKERS TO HEAVY ABUSERS OF ALCOHOL. THE HE SCALE SUCCESSFULLY DIFFERENTIATED BETWEEN HEROIN ADDICTS ADMITTED FOR INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT AND A GROUP OF NONADDICTS. THE VALIDATIONS WERE ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR BLACKS AND CAUCASIANS, LESS SIGNIFICANT FOR PUERTO RICAN GROUPS. THE SCALE ALSO DISCRIMINATED BETWEEN HEROIN ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS IN INSTITUTIONS. INTERESTINGLY, THE RESPONSE PATTERNS WERE SIMILAR FOR BOTH GROUPS. THE HEROIN ADDICTS, HOWEVER, RESPONDED WITH GREATER INTENSITY. BOTH GROUPS SHOWED GENERALLY DEPRESSED EMOTIONAL TONE, AMBIVALENT RELIGIOUS ATTITUDES, REJECTION OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, STRONG PEER PRESSURES AT AN EARLY AGE, A RESENTMENT OF AUTHORITY, CONFUSED PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ADOPTION OF DENIAL, DISTORTION, PROJECTION, ROLE PLAYING, AND GRANDIOSE ATTITUDES AS MAJOR DEFENSE MECHANISMS. THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC RESPONSE DIFFERENCES ON THE HE SCALE INDICATE THE NEED FOR FURTHER ITEM ANALYSIS AND REFINEMENT. SUCH WORK SEEMS WARRANTED IN VIEW OF THE INCREASE IN DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION IN SOCIETY AND THE NEED FOR PREDICTIVE INSTRUMENTS. (GLR)