Personality Construct Among Patients With Substance Use Disorder: An Explanatory Study In Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: Many researches defined the critical predictors and significant risk factors associated with various substance use behaviors, revealing the personality traits as important determinants. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the personality constructs of individuals with a history of substance use disorder in Pakistan. Method: The Qualitative Study was conducted through purposive sampling by selecting the professionals (psychiatrists=9, clinical psychologists=4, patients with SUD = 5) with having a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 29 years of experience working with substance use disorder patients and participants with the history of at least three years of diagnosis. A total of 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine (N=13) mental health professionals and five (N=05) patients with substance use disorder. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed by independent researchers. The transcripts were analyzed using a systematic approach that incorporates inductive thematic analysis. Results: The themes that emerged after analyses were combined under the main three headings: Social, Cultural and Psychological/individual factors. The main results indicated that authoritative parenting style, family lifestyles, pleasure-seeking, enhanced energy, dependent personality traits, emotional instability and conflicting interpersonal relationship lead to substance use which can be addressed through early intervention.