Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

10-20-1978

Abstract

The study proposes that experiences caused by direct drug action and the unusual pressures of obtaining the illegal drug heroin greatly affect heroin addict MMPI responding. These drug-related experiences confound MMPI profile data by introducing a variable not related to personality dynamics or personality traits. An associated confounding variable is the amount of time between cessation of heroin use and the administration of the MMPI. The longer this time period the less the effect of drug-related experiences upon MMPI responding, as the heroin addicts forget some of their drug-related experiences and respond as appropriate to their present life experiences. The variable of time between the end of drug use and the administering of the MMPI was controlled by testing all heroin addict subjects from eleven to twenty days after cessation of heroin use. The second confounding variable, drug-related experiences contaminating MMPI personality data, was controlled by the use of a modified instruction set designed to eliminate MMPI endorsement by past drug-experiences. Fifteen subjects were administered the MMPI with the modified instructions. Fifteen took the MMPI with the standard instructions. All thirty subject heroin addicts entered treatment while using significant doses of heroin, underwent seven to ten day

opiate detoxifications, and were tested within ten days of completing their narcotic detoxification. They were urine tested to ensure that they did not use heroin during this MMPI test period.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Samuel Roll

Second Committee Member

Britton Kenneth Ruebush

Third Committee Member

Sidney Rosenblum

Fourth Committee Member

Richard Jerome Harris

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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