PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D A Calsyn

Publications and source records attributed to D A Calsyn.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Validity of the MCMI Drug Abuse Scale varies as a function of drug choice, race, and axis II subtypes.

The validity of the Drug Abuse Scale (T) from the Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) was studied by administering the MCMI to 110 male veterans seeking treatment for opioid or cocaine dependence. Only 26 and 23% of the sample obtained base rate (BR) scores above the clinical relevant cutoffs of 84 and 74, respectively. Covariables associated with elevated scores on the T Scale were Black race, presence of narcissistic/antisocial personality features, and more severe psychopathology in general. The authors urge caution in using the Drug Abuse Scale for the purpose of identifying drug abusers.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sexual behaviors of intravenous drug users in treatment.

Sexual behaviors of a group of 313 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) (225 men, 88 women) were assessed by a structured interview at the start of an AIDS prevention project. Although the majority were celibate or monogamous during the prior year (men 52.5%, women 64.3%), many IVDUs had multiple sexual partners in that time, including 19.6% of men and 7.2% of women reporting five or more. Married male and female IVDUs were more likely to have multiple sexual partners than married people in general population samples. Only 38.5% of male and 35.4% of female IVDUs ever used condoms during the previous 5 years. Percentage of sexual encounters in which condoms were used correlated significantly with the number of partners for women (r = 0.37, p less than 0.01), but not for men (r = 0.03, ns). Use of intravenous drugs in the prior year, sharing of needles, use of stimulants, exchange of sex for money or drugs, and combining sexual events with drug use were all associated with greater numbers of sexual partners. A subset of male IVDUs engages in the dual-risk behaviors of needle sharing and unprotected intercourse with multiple partners. This group could act as a highly efficient vector for human immunodeficiency virus transmission and should become a focus of intensive preventive intervention.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Validity of the MCMI Drug Abuse Scale with drug abusing and psychiatric samples.

The validity of the Drug Abuse Scale (T) from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) was studied by administering the MCMI to 75 White male veterans who were seeking treatment for opioid or cocaine dependence and 60 White male veterans without diagnoses of drug dependence who were receiving psychiatric care. Only (39.4%) of the drug-abusing sample was classified correctly by obtaining base rate (BR) scores above the clinical relevant cut-off of 74, whereas, only 12% of the psychiatric sample was misclassified by having obtained a BR above 74. The results suggest that the MCMI T Scale is limited in its ability to identify drug users, but is also unlikely to misclassify psychiatric patients as drug abusers when they are not. The authors urge caution in using the Drug Abuse Scale for the purpose of identifying drug abusers.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Staffing patterns of American methadone maintenance programs.

Methadone maintenance is the most frequently utilized treatment for heroin addiction and also represents one of the best AIDS-prevention tools for the IV drug using population. Despite these important roles, very little has been reported about how methadone maintenance clinics are staffed. Surveys covering various aspects of program operations, including staffing, were sent to all clinics (N = 557) listed in the 1984 National Directory of Drug Abuse and Alcohol Treatment Programs. Using ANOVA, staffing patterns were compared across programs as a function of clinic size, city size, region of the country, and funding resources. While few differences were found based on city or clinic size, staffing patterns varied as a function of regional location as well as the sources of a clinic's funding.

Community Mental Health Centers↗
PubMed1990

Personality disorder subtypes among cocaine and opioid addicts using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory.

Individuals with psychoactive substance dependence suffer from high rates of non-substance use psychiatric disorders. These disorders sometimes prove difficult to distinguish in clinical practice. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) is a relatively new assessment tool which purports to evaluate DSM-III Axis I and Axis II disorders. In the present study, the MCMI was administered to 73 opioid addicts and 37 cocaine addicts entering treatment. MCMI protocols were then sorted four times to identify: (1) subjects with psychotic disturbances, (2) subjects with affective disturbances, (3) subjects with severe personality disorders, and (4) basic personality disorder subtypes. The covariabilities of all four categories with drug of choice are presented and discussed. The covariabilites of the first three categories with the fourth are also presented and discussed. The MCMI appears to be a useful instrument for psychiatric diagnosis of opioid and cocaine addicts.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A nationwide survey of urinalysis practices of methadone maintenance clinics. Utilization of laboratory services.

The urinalysis practices of 324 methadone maintenance clinics were surveyed by using a brief self-report questionnaire. Results indicated that there was a wide variability in collection practices and utilization of laboratory techniques. The most frequent collection schedules were monthly (40%) and weekly (32%). The most frequent laboratory techniques used for initial screening were thin-layer chromatography and enzyme immunoassay. Confirmatory testing by a second technique was used by 69% of the laboratories. The most popular confirmatory techniques used were thin-layer chromatography, enzyme immunoassay, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The geographic differences in urinalysis practices also were noted. The implications for drug abuse treatment were determined.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed1989

Validation of MMPI profile subtypes among opioid addicts who are beginning methadone maintenance treatment.

The purpose of the present research was (1) to examine the stability of MMPI subtypes within a VA drug abusing population; and (2) to provide external validation for these subtypes. The MMPI was administered to 107 male veterans who were entering methadone maintenance treatment. Normal sphere personality characteristics, sociodemographic information, and self- and interviewer ratings were collected by use of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Using D2 analysis, each MMPI profile was compared to the mean profile for three MMPI profile clusters obtained by Roszell, Chaney, and Blaes (1983) on a previous sample. Normal, psychoneurotic, and schizoid profiles were found in percentages similar to Roszell et al. The normal cluster was divided into two groups with and without T score elevations above 70 on the clinical scales. The normal group with profile elevations was similar to profile groups labeled as psychopathic in previous research. The four MMPI profile subtypes were compared on the 16PF and the ASI. The psychoneurotic and schizoid groups demonstrated higher levels of emotional distress and psychiatric difficulty than did the normal or psychopathic groups. The psychopathic and schizoid groups had more legal problems than the other two groups; the normal group had less evidence of marital and family problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Interpersonal style differences among drug abusers.

Interpersonal style differences among drug abusers were explored using Ryan's (1977) typological system of FIRO-B interpretation. One hundred eleven male veteran drug abusers were administered the FIRO-B, along with a battery of psychological tests and a structured interview. The drug abusers were more likely to be categorized as "loners," "rebels," and "pessimists" than was the general population sample. The categories within each FIRO-B dimension (inclusion, control, and affection) were collapsed into three larger subtypes based on general patterns of "expressed" and "wanted" scores within each dimension. The construct validity of the Ryan schema was tested by comparing the three larger groups for each dimension on a series of preselected variables for which differences would be hypothesized from FIRO theory. The results of these analyses were consistent with Ryan's (1977) and Schutz's (1978) theories about interpersonal orientation. The findings of the study provide information about the commonality and heterogeneity of interpersonal style among drug abusers. The findings also support the construct validity of Ryan's typological schema for the FIRO-B.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Clinical evaluation and use of urine screening for drug abuse.

Urine drug screening is indicated to evaluate patients who show mental status or behavioral changes and to monitor the abstinence of drug abusers. The appropriate timing for collecting urine specimens may vary depending on the suspected drug of abuse and on laboratory factors. Laboratories use a variety of techniques to do urine screens, and these must be understood by clinicians ordering the screens to interpret results correctly. In treating drug-abusing patients, clinicians must apply structured reinforcement in conjunction with urine screen results to aid patients in achieving abstinence.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

A system for uniform application of contingencies for illicit drug use.

Previous research supports the concept of providing structural limit setting as a contingency for illicit drug use identified by urinalysis in methadone maintenance treatment. A system for applying the principles learned from research to a clinical setting is described. A retrospective review of clinic records indicates this system can be uniformly implemented across counselors and treatment teams. The potential critical elements in the system and setting are discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1986

Alcohol use and psychopathology in opioid addicts on methadone maintenance.

The occurrence of alcohol problems in opiate addicts on methadone maintenance presents a serious challenge for treatment. Dually addicted patients have a higher incidence of medical and psychiatric complications, consume large amounts of staff and treatment resources, and often exit treatment through administrative detoxification. Yet, little is known about differences in psychopathology between this group and other opioid addicts. This paper summarizes data for 166 male opioid addicts receiving methadone treatment. Alcohol problems were identified, and the relationship between dual addiction and psychopathology was explored. In the first phase of the study the MMPI and Brief MAST (Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test) were administered to 91 subjects. Comparison of Brief MAST scores with program counselors' judgments of the presence or absence of an alcohol problem showed a significant relationship. Cluster analysis of MMPI scores generated three groups. The clusters had significantly different mean MAST scores with the normal cluster having the least indication of alcohol problems, the neurotic cluster intermediate, and the schizoid cluster the greatest indication of problematic alcohol consumption. The second phase of the study with another 75 subjects replicated the relationship between cluster membership and MAST score. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was also administered to these subjects, and high correlations between Brief MAST and ASI alcohol problem measures were found. Within-treatment outcome data on a number of measures were then collected for 1 year. Problem drinking severity was negatively related to employment status and positively related to number of random urinalyses indicating illicit drug use. Implication of these findings for refining treatment strategies are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Personality and demographic characteristics associated with the prescribing of psychoactive medications for methadone maintenance patients.

This study reviews the prescription of psychoactive medications in a methadone maintenance clinic and looks for salient personality and cognitive differences between medication groups based on the administration of a battery of psychological tests. One hundred and nine consecutive admissions to a methadone program were studied, of which 38.5% had received a psychoactive medication in addition to methadone. The data were analyzed comparing results for antianxiety and antidepressant medication groups as well as a methadone-only group. The antianxiety medication group displayed more somatic complaints, worries, and tension and was more timid, impulsive, and pessimistic than the other two groups. There were only small differences between the antidepressant medication and methadone-only groups. There were no significant differences between groups on cognitive measures. Meaningful differences in several demographic variables also emerged. The implications for this research are discussed.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1986

Methadone dosage: patient characteristics and clinical correlates.

This paper summarizes data for 106 male opioid addicts which give evidence that there are demographic and clinical differences between groups of patients maintained in three ranges of methadone dosage (less than 35 mg, 36-59 mg, greater than 60 mg). At time of admission the Addiction Severity Index was administered. During the first month of treatment a routine battery of psychological tests--including the MMPI-168, 16PF, Shipley Institute of Living Scale, and Trail Making Test--was also administered. High-dose subjects were under greater emotional distress and experienced more anxiety (p less than .05), had more medical hospitalizations (p less than .05), and had been treated more frequently with psychoactive medications (p less than .05). They also had histories of greater use of barbiturates (p less than .001) and amphetamines (p less than .01). While in treatment they more frequently had urinalyses positive for illicit drugs during the first 6 months (p less than .05). Low-dose subjects had fewer friends (p less than .05). The 1-year program retention rates were found to be lower for the medium-dose group (p less than .05).

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Perception of treatment needs: differences between patients and staff of a drug abuse treatment program.

Patients and staff of the Seattle Veterans Administration Drug Dependency Treatment Program were surveyed to elicit their perception of treatment priorities in establishing a series of educationally oriented short-term groups. Comparisons of priorities were made between patients and staff, methadone and polydrug patients, and patients with alcohol problems and those without alcohol problems. After the survey a series of short-term groups was established and attendance was kept. It was found in general that the groups which patients thought had higher priority in their treatment--including drug and medical information, stress management, and money management--were better attended.

Adult↗