NCJ Number
127105
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 25 Issue: 99 Dated: (Fall 1990) Pages: 567-572
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered, utilizing non-K-corrected adolescent norms, to 243 adolescents at an intensive residential treatment center for chemical dependency. Two-thirds of the subjects were male, and over 90 percent were white; the drugs of choice were alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine.
Abstract
No significant differences in scores were found between abusers of the various drugs or between males and females. When combined into one data pool, the results revealed a general lack of overall psycho-pathology in drug-abusing adolescents. The only clinically significant elevation emerged on the Pd scale which defines individuals as being rebellious, nonconforming, having a high likelihood of family dysfunction, being impulsive, and exhibiting little remorse for their actions. This finding is actually consistent with adult and adolescent abusers. Adolescents scored relatively low on the D scale which measures depression, in contrast to adult abusers. This suggests that depression is a result of, rather than a precursor, of addiction. 1 table and 15 references