Recently, substance dependence is one of the important social problems. Clinical findings show that in substance dependence these elements play crucial roles: personality traits, social relations, attitudes and values, and also emotional intelligence elements (factors) such as: emotions, feelings, managing emotions, challenging with problems, problem solving, tolerating the psychological pressure, impulse control, self esteem and interpersonal relations. In consequence, understanding the meaning of emotional intelligence and trying to make devices for its evaluation have significant role in human psychological health.

This study purposes to find a significant relation between emotional intelligence and instable personality in substance abusers?

The present co relational study selected 80 addicted males through available sampling from TC centers: Kimia, Yas, and Aban clinics in Yazd. Their emotional intelligence was estimated by Bar-On questionnaire and their personality through Eysenck Personality questionnaire for adults, and then in SPSS the correlation was estimated by Pearson Product correlation coefficient.

There was a significant negative relation (0.05) between emotional intelligence and Instable personality in substance abusers. The following elements were in sequence affective on dependent variable (Instable personality): Problem solving and being optimistic (P value = 0.000), interpersonal relation (P value = 0.01), self esteem (p value = 0.013), and being realistic (p value = 0.017) were significant.

Based on the findings emotional intelligence has significant relation with instable personality in substance abusers.

Use of more exact tools (devices) in order to assess all aspects of personality can give better results.

Coping skills teach individuals how to face (confront) stress provoking situations. Studies show that drug abusing is correlated to coping skills. Personality Characteristics also have correlation with drug abusing, and in this study, the effect of coping skills on anxiety and personality characteristics in persons with drug dependent have being examined.

This research was a study with available sampling, from 40 addicted who were self referred to TC center. They were in two groups, sample and control. The instrumentations were the Kettles Anxiety Questionnaire, and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire; for analysis of data SPSS was used.

There was a significant correlation between sample and control groups in anxiety (p < 0/002), and personality characteristics. (p < 0/013). Coping skills causes the decrease of anxiety in sample group, regarding the average of anxiety in sample (11/14) in comparison to control (1/57) group. Besides, coping skills modify personality characteristics in sample group, comparing the average of tested (examined) characteristics in both groups, sample got (-4/38), and control (0/24).

According to our findings, training coping skills has influenced the decline of anxiety and modification (change) of personality characteristics.

There is no pharmacotherapy with specific indication for psychostimulant detoxification. Few studies have been made about pharmacological strategies in this dependence. In dual patients, literature about this remains limited.

To describe socio-demographic features, drug-related experiences, primary psychiatric disorders and therapeutical approaches in dual inpatients, and compare them with non dual inpatients.

We present a descriptive and cross-sectional study, based on the description of 300 admitted patients for psychostimulant detoxification from June 2008 to August 2011. Clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were registered using an ad-hoc questionnaire. Structured interviews based on SCID I, SCID II, ASI and CAADID were performed to screen psychiatric co-morbidity.

Almost 63% reached criteria for dual diagnosis (72.4% men, mean age 36 ± 7,8 years). The most common diagnostics were psychotic disorders (45.5%) in axis I and Cluster B personality disorders in axis II (31.8%). 44.7% were multiple-drug abusers. 57.9% of dual patients had been previously hospitalized in comparison with 28.1% of non dual patients, being this statistically significant. Dual patients used a higher number of pharmacological treatments at discharging from hospital (3,1 ± 1,5 vs 1,9 ± 1,4, p < 0.001). The most frequent approaches were antiepileptics (80,8%), antidepressant (67.7%), antipsychotics (51.3%), interdictors (16.9%), anxiolytics (12.8%) and opioid agonists (10.4%).

Dual patients admitted for a psychostimulant detoxification frequently reach criteria for psychotic disorders and cluster B personality disorders. They exhibit a severe condition, requiring numerous admissions and presenting higher prevalence of poly-drug abuse. Similarly, they need additional pharmacological strategies to complete detoxification.

Alcoholic dependence is an addictive disorder with high levels of mortality and morbidity, characterized by loss of ability to drink alcohol in moderation and continued drinking despite negative consequences. Therapeutic approaches include medical, psychological and social support. The aim of this study was to find factors that can improve outcomes.

Compare a population of alcoholics who have achieved one year of total abstinence from alcohol with individuals that relapse within the same period and identify individual and treatment-related factors that can predict success.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify treatment related predictors of continuous abstinence in individuals above 18 years old who meet ICD-10 criteria for alcoholic dependence during the first year of treatment in Alcoholic Center of Hospital de Braga.

590 patients met the selection criteria. Treatment success rate (total abstinence) was 32,3%. Individual characteristics such as gender, age, civil state or level of instruction were not directly related to 1st year outcomes. Independent predictors of continuous abstinence were no prior inpatient treatment (OR 0.549, 95%CI = 0.322–0.936), inpatient treatment at beginning (OR 3.765, 95%CI = 2.061–6.879) and abstinence at beginning of treatment (OR 4.947, 95%CI = 2.223–11.008).

The results show that using different approaches for the initial treatment of alcoholic dependence can result in higher periods of total abstinence. These findings may be useful to help physicians to improve alcoholic dependence treatment outcomes.

Positive influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on psychological functions is fast growing in many aspects of social life and higher levels of emotional intelligence can be important in human's behavior. So this study investigated emotional intelligence in addicted and nonaddicted people.

In sampling process a total of 73 addicted people and 73 non-addicted people were randomly selected. All participants were requested to complete Schutte's Self- Report E / I Test (SSREIT).

Findings indicated significant differences between two groups in components of emotional intelligent. Nonaddicted people had more scores in appraisal of emotion, utilization of emotion and general score of emotional intelligence than addicted people.

Findings indicates that applying of plans in the field of increasing emotional intelligent can help people with positive attitudes to addiction in order to manage the bad problems and event and as a result reduce tendency to addiction.

Methadone treatment may cause prolongation of QT/QTc.

This study aims to assess the impact of a single dose of methadone on the value of the QT in the patients from the substitution program.

Participants: 37 people (10women and 27men) treated with methadone in the substitution program. The average age of respondents was 35 ± 9 years old (min.21, max.59), the mean time of addiction 16 ± 8 years, mean dose of methadone was 80 ± 18 ml. The control group: 17 patients (6men and 11women), healthy, non-addicted to drugs. The average age of group was 29 ± 6 years. QT and QTc (ECG) were measured automatically. The study was performed before and about 60minutes after the administration of a single dose of methadone.

There is a statistically significant difference between QTc values before and after the administration of a single dose of methadon (p = 0.006). Comparison of the average increase in QTc values in each group, showed that the patients taking methadone up to 70 ml (15.21 ms) had the highest increase, and those receiving a minimum of 90 ml (4 ms) had the lowest increase.

It was found that the QTc value is statistically significantly greater in patients after the intake of methadone (p = 0.048). The average QTc value obtained in these groups differed by 16.13 ms.

The analysis of the occurrence of statistically significant differences of QTc values before and after the administration of a single dose of methadone shows that methadone causes QT prolongation in the ECG in opioids addicted patients from the substitution program.

Anxiety and depression are showed as more frequent in alcoholics in both epidemiological surveys and clinical samples. Affective and mood disorder in alcohol-dependent patients may have a negative impact on Quality of Life (QoL) and than on relapse.

To evaluate the course of alcohol use, anxiety, depression and QoL during alcohol detoxification.

126 patients entering alcohol detoxification were evaluated at the beginning, at the end and 6 month later of treatment for frequency of alcohol intake, quality of life, anxiety and depression using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), State Trait Anxiety Inventor (STAI-Y) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

At the admission 78% (n = 98) and 94% (n = 118) of the sample presented an anxiety score above the threshold on states and traits scale respectively, 92% (n = 116) showed depression ranged from mild to severe and QoL score was lower than normative levels in all domains. At the discharge, depression and state anxiety significantly decreased to normative level (p = < 0.0001), otherwise half part of the sample showed trait anxiety score above threshold. After 6 month, state anxiety was also decreased, whereas trait anxiety and depression levels increased again. QoL was significantly improved at follow-up except for psychological domain.

The negative effect of anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse on quality of life was confirmed. Follow-up results suggest that trait anxiety should maintain low levels in psychological domain of WHOQoL in alcoholdependent patients.

The alcoholic patients present a high mortality. The rate of mortality of the patients who follow an ambulatory specialized treatment and the one from those who are admitted for organic pathologies related to their alcohol consumption is known. However, it is unknown to us if the alcoholics with a more psychiatric profile also pass away prematurely.

To research on the clinical characteristics, therapeutic evolution, survival and factors that can better predict their subsequent mortality.

Longitudinal monitoring at 14 years of a cohort of 91 alcoholic patients admitted in 1993 for detoxification in a Psychiatry ward and that followed a subsequent ambulatory treatment.

Presented with psychiatric co morbidity (40,6%) (N = 37) and underwent in-hospital detoxification on several occasions (78%) (N = 71). At 14 years the rate of mortality has been of 34,1% (N = 31). The patients that passed away showed more frequently cognitive deterioration and resident situation. They also received antidepressants more frequently, had less family support and usually suffered an alcohol consumption.

The patients that are admitted in Psychiatry for detoxification are relatively young, with psychiatric co morbidity, cognitive deterioration, serious social and familiar problematic and repeated precedents of failure with few adherence. The mortality of these patients is between the one of ambulatory patients and the one of those who were admitted for an organic cause, being the age when dying, younger than those who were admitted for organic causes.

Pathological gambling refers to the uncontrollable impulse to gamble, irrespective of the interference the behaviour has on the individual's life. It often results in disrupted relationships, financial problems, criminal behaviour and yet the individual is unable to refrain.

Our aim is to evaluate the relationship among impulsivity traits, personality assessment and psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of pathological gamblers.

78 pathological gamblers were evaluated with the following instruments: MINI to evaluate psychiatric comorbidity; TCI to evaluate personality traits, and BIS-11 to evaluate impulsivity. Pathological gambling was assessed with DSM-IV-TR criteria.

In our sample we found an average score of BIS-11 (66,9) slightly higher than the score of the general population (63,8). The scores of TCI, compared with the mean scores of the general population, differ significantly with regard to NS, RD, C, ST. As to MINI, it reveals a significant prevalence of Major Depressive Episode, Dysthymia, GAD, and risk of suicide. We identified two groups at high and low impulsivity and we conducted an analysis in relation to personality traits measured by TCI and incidence of psychiatric comorbidity measured by the MINI. The group with high impulsivity was associated with significantly higher scores of NS and HA, and lower RD and SD. Also in this group there was a higher incidence of Major Depressive Episode and GAD.

The analysis allows to identify the impulsive trait as a discriminating factor of two different types of players in relation to personality characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity.

Pathological gambling (PG) disorder occurs when a person gambles repetitively despite severe negative effects on important aspects of life. PG tends to be a heterogonous disorder in which patients differ with respect to type and intensity of gambling behavior, psychiatric comorbidity, family history, age at onset and gender. Gamblers may accordingly be classified into three subtypes: the “impulsive”, “obsessive-compulsive” and “addicted” subtypes.

To characterize a sample of Italian PG pathological gamblers and assess the prevalence of the various gambling subtypes in this population.

52 outpatients (44 men, 9 women), diagnosed with PG according to DSM IV-TR and SOGS criteria, were administered the Dannon Ainhold Gambling Scale (DAGS), which assesses the presence of the disorder and is useful for patient subtyping.

37 gamblers enrolled in our study played one specific kind of game, while 15 played multiple games. 30 patients played slot machines, 18 sport betting, 11 casino and card games, 14 bingo and scratch cards. According to DAGS, 5 (9,6%) patients belonged to the “addicted” subtype, 4 (7,7%) to the “obsessive-compulsive” subtype and 9 (17,3%) to the “impulsive” subtype. 15 (28,8%) gamblers were classified as “addicted-impulsive” subtype, 10 (19,2%) as “addicted-obsessive-impulsive” subtype, while 9 (17,3%) did not belong to any specific subtype though they displayed a tendency for one of the subtypes.

DAGS allows to identify three major subtypes of gamblers and also considers possible combinations between the different subtypes. An evaluation of these aspects could be useful in treatment options based on patient subtype.

The aim of the study was to compare the severity of symptoms of mobile phone addiction in adolescents at risk of Internet addiction and those at no risk of such addiction.

The study was conducted using two self-constructed questionnaires, a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Mobile Phone Addiction Assessment Questionnaire, and Young's Internet Addiction Test.

The participant group included 291 persons aged 13–19 years.

Based on the Internet Addiction Test, a group of 109 persons meeting Young's criteria for the risk of Internet addiction and a group of 154 no-risk participants were singled out.

1. 1. Young people at risk of Internet addiction, significantly more often than no- risk participants, made unsuccessful attempts at limiting the number of phone calls and text messages, reduced their sleeping hours to be able to talk on the phone, paid very high bills which exceeded their calling and texting plans, kept the costs of phone calls secret from their families, played down the number of mobile phone calls they made, and had another, spare mobile phone.

2. 2. Young people at risk of Internet addiction, significantly more often than no risk participants, felt lonely and unaccepted when they did not receive phone calls and text messages, preferred to form interpersonal relationships and express their emotions by means of telephone calls and text messages, and used their mobiles to listen to music, take videos and photos, play games and access the Internet.

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the symptoms of mobile phone addiction and young people's involvement in the Internet.

The following self-constructed instruments were used in this study: a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Mobile Phone Addiction Assessment Questionnaire, and the Internet Addiction Assessment Questionnaire. The participant group consisted of 291 persons aged 13–19 years.

The result show that there are statistically significant relationships between

1. (1) The frequency with which the young people use Internet pornography, instant messengers and Internet websites, play aggressive computer games and look for acceptance and understanding exclusively on-line and

2. (2) The scales of the Mobile Phone Addiction Assessment Questionnaire.

1. 1. Addiction to text messaging and making mobile phone calls and the preference for forming interpersonal relationships and expressing emotions via phone calls and texting co-occur with symptoms of Internet addiction, playing aggressive computer games, using on-line pornography, and the belief that it is only on-line that one can gain acceptance and understanding and express authentic emotions.

2. 2. In the group of boys, the strongest relationship was found between addiction to mobile phone calls and text messages and the use of on-line pornography.

3. 3. In the group of girls, the strongest relationship was found between addiction to the Internet and the preference for forming interpersonal relationships and expressing emotions via text messages and phone calls.

Malaysia is the tenth largest alcohol consumer in the world. Yet, there was limited data avaoilable about alcohol prevalence among Malaysian population at the moment. Apart from general population, the data on the usage of alcohol among the natives especially “Orang Asli” in central peninsular Malaysia are almost none. Orang asli are observed to use alcohol heavily as part of their cultural practices and end up with more complications e.g. intoxications, dependence syndrome and violence behavior.

We investigate the prevalence of alcohol use among the aborigines and their psychosocial correlates related to alcohol use.

This is a household survey involving 200 participants, age 18 and above with written consent using sytematic sampling from the aborigine village area of Gombak Batu 11. We exclude those subjects who refused consent and those in the withdrawal or intoxication state during the interview. The Instruments use include Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Tool linked with Brief-Intervention(ASSIST-BI) questionnaires and MINI neuropsychiatric inventory(MINI). We also conduct the focus group discussion for details interview on their belief,knowledge and practice regarding alcohol drinking habit,.Outcomes measures are analysed using SPSS version 16.

We expect that the prevalence of alcohol and substance use among Malaysian aborigines are higher as compare to general population in Malaysia.

The aborigines in Malaysia pobably in need for specific awareness promotion and outreach treatment program that tailor to their unique way of life.

Substance dependence and personality disorders often co-occur and personality disorders are highly prevalent comorbid conditions among addicted individuals. Early maladaptive schemas contribute to development of personality disorders as well as addictive behaviors.

Examining early maladaptive schemas among addict persons with and without personality disorders.

To determine whether there are particular schemas that are associated with specific personality disorders.

In this cross-sectional study the participants were 100 persons with substance dependence including 84 opioid addicts, 5 cannabis dependents and 11 subjects with methamphetamine dependence. Participants were given the Young Schema Questionnaire-Long Form in order to identify Early Maladaptive Schemas. Furthermore, structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-II) was performed by a trained interviewer to identify personality disorders.

Fifty three percent of participants had borderline personality disorder and the rate of antisocial personality disorder was 14%. Borderline personality disorder was associated with abandonment and Mistrust/Abuse schemas. There was found no significance difference between persons with borderline personality disorder and subjects with antisocial personality disorder in terms of Early maladaptive schemas. Compared to subjects without personality disorder, participants with personality disorder had higher scores of “persormance” and “impaired limits” domains.There was a significant association between educational level and early maladaptive schemas.

People with schema domains of impaired performance and impaired limits may be more likely to develop cluster B personality disorders and this finding is in accordance with the previous study of the authors which showed that these domains of schemas were more prevalent among addict people.

Urine drug screen false-positives can have quite negative consequences to the patient, on personal and social levels and lead to clinical misdiagnosis.

To report a case of opioid false-positive in urine drug screen (TOX/See BIO-RAD) in a patient medicated with levomepromazine and discuss the implications of our findings.

To stress the importance of excluding cross-reactivity induced by drugs in patients presenting with psychiatric symptoms.

Report of a case and overview of the literature available in MEDLINE.

A 24-year old man was involuntarily committed to our psyhiatric inpatient unit with a diagnosis of manic episode. A rapid urine drug toxicology screen was positive for cannabinoids. In the past he consumed heroin and cocaine. At present, he reports using cannabinoids only. He started risperidone, lorazepam and levomepromazine. In the next days, levomepromazine dosage was increased. During hospitalization there was a suspicion that the patient was consuming drugs. A urine drug screen was performed on day 7 and it was positive for cannabinoids and opioids, which the patient contested. The test was repeated five times, every 2 days, and remained positive. After that a different test, a direct identification test in blood, was performed and it was negative for opioids. Levomepromazine was discontinued. One day after the urine drug screen was repeated and was negative for opioids. This is the first report suggesting opioids cross-reactivity in urine drug screen induced by levomepromazine.

Levomepromazine or it's interactions with other drugs may cause false-positives in urine drug screen.

Until now, no reliable biological markers of risk and relapse in cocaine-dependent patients have been identified. The yawn-inducing Apomorphine test has been proposed as a marker for predicting relapse during cocaine withdrawal.

Studying the Apomorphine complete Test as a predictor of relapse in intranasal cocaine dependet-patients during abstinence.

39 (35 men) cocaine addicts were recruited and included in an addiction program involving 2 weeks in-patient setting and a 23 follow-up weeks. Dependence was diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria and other axis I comorbid main diagnosis were excluded.

We performed the Apomorphine complete Test (including an Apomorphine Test plus a Placebo Test) at the beginning (day 1) and end (day 11 or 12) of a detoxification program. Patient received 0′005 mg/kg of apomorphine and 0′005 mg/kg of placebo subcutaneously each test.

The patients who relapse prematurely (before 4 weeks), yawn more 11′42 (0–31) in the Apomorphine complete Test realized the first day of the detoxification compared with patients that relapse no prematurely (after 4 weeks of follow-up), 6′83 (0–20), Z -2′14 p < 0′03. A model can establish, with a point of court of 7 yawns in the first Apomorphine complete Test that has a sensibility of 61 ′ 9% and a specificity of 70 ′ 6%.

There an increased number of yawns in relapse-patients The Apomorphine complete Test could be proposed as a biological marker of early relapse.

An emerging literature suggests a complex relationship between PTSD and self-reported reasons for using substances (also known as “expectancies,” or “the beliefs that individuals hold about the effects of substances on their behavior, moods, and emotions”).

We studied this topic in a sample of 52 women with current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD), using a cross-sectional design. Both PTSD and SUD tended to be chronic and severe, with the PTSD mostly arising from childhood repeated physical and/or sexual trauma.

Measures included the Alcohol Effects Questionnaire (Rosenhow et al., 1995), the Cocaine Expectancy Questionnaire (Jaffe & Kilby, 1994), as well as a new subscale of 12 items designed to address key PTSD symptoms (e.g., “I use substance(s) to relieve flashbacks of PTSD”).

Results indicated two main findings. First, of the 12 subscales we evaluated, the most highly rated expectancy subscales were: paranoia, grandiosity/euphoria, sexual enhancement, global positive changes, power and aggression, and PTSD. Relatively lower were: desire for drugs, social expression, social and physical pleasure, cognitive and physical impairment, relaxation/tension reduction, and careless unconcern. Second, our PTSD subscale showed significant correlations with just three subscales: power and aggression (r=.43), global positive changes (r=.41), relaxation/tension reduction (r=.31).

Discussion includes the importance of recognizing the varied reasons for using among women with PTSD/SUD (of which PTSD symptoms are just part of the picture, and not necessarily the most important reason). We also address measurement and sampling issues, and limitations of our design.