Personality profile and level of anxiety in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome: a comparative study

Alcohol and drug dependence disorder is characterised by a chronic course with frequent relapses. Various psychosocial factors have been identified which predict relapse in alcohol dependence. Many studies have shown that personality and anxiety play major roles in determining the outcome of patients with alcohol dependence. Method: In the present study, a sample of 30 patients with the diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, currently using the substance (active dependence) was taken. Along with these, 20 normal controls matched on age and education were also included. The sample was collected by using the purposive sampling method. Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used as tools to assess personality profile and levels of anxiety respectively. The analysis included independent sample t-test and chi-square test. Results: Results shows that patients with alcohol dependence had significantly more score on novelty seeking (p<0.05) and self-transcendence (p<0.05), and less score on self-directedness (p<0.001) and cooperativeness (p<0.01), and had significantly (p<0.001) more anxiety (both state and trait) compared to normal group. Conclusion: Further, it can be concluded that patients with alcohol dependence had more novelty seeking and anxiety which precipitate relapse among them.