Severity of Neurotic Disorders and Social Masochism in Chemical Addicts.

Objective. To study the occurrence of neurological disorders and social masochism in patients with chemical addiction. Materials and methods. A total of 30 patients were studied in out-patient conditions at the Novosibirsk district clinical drug addiction clinic. Psychometric investigations included a set of scales and questionnaires, along with a social masochism questionnaire developed by the authors. Assessments were performed in comparison with values obtained in a group of 25 healthy subjects. Results and conclusions. Patients with chemical dependence showed significantly higher scores on the neurotic disorders questionnaire for the following groups of psychopathological disorders: hysteria, anxiety, and depression, as well as sleep impairment. Personality and behavioral features characteristics of social masochism were quite marked in chemical addiction (various types of aggression, victimhood, irritability, negativism, experiences of resentment and guilt; self-harming, hypersocial, provocatory, and insight-lacking behavior, perception of occupying the victim role, negative perceptions of the environment). High general levels of social masochism were also typical. A link was found between measures of the affective domain and signs of social masochism and neurotic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Neuroscience & Behavioral Physiology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)