A Comparative Study of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Impulsivity Between Opioid Abusers and Non-Abusers

Objective: The present study aimed to examine and compare early maladaptive schemas and impulsivity between opioid abusers and non-abusers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, early maladaptive schemas and impulsivity were compared between ۶۰ individuals dependent on opioids who were sampled from five drug rehabilitation centers in Qazvin and ۶۰ workers of the Qazvin Glass Factory who were not dependent on opioids. The Young Schema Questionnaire and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale were used to gather data; data were analyzed using one-way multivariate analysis of variance.  Results: The results indicated higher levels of early maladaptive schemas (overvigilance, F=۴۸.۸۱, P<۰.۰۱; other-directedness, F=۴۶.۹۹, P<۰.۰۱; disconnection, F=۴۴.۰۹, P<۰.۰۱; impaired limits, F=۲۵.۶۲, P<۰.۰۱; and impaired autonomy, F=۴۵.۷۵, P<۰.۰۱) and impulsivity (F=۵۸.۴۱, P<۰.۰۱) in opioid abusers than in non-abusers.  Conclusion: The presence of early maladaptive schemas may be an underlying factor in drug abuse tendency. On the other hand, because the prevalence of impulsivity among individuals dependent on opioids increases the likelihood of risk behaviors, including drug abuse, it seems necessary to design interventions aimed at improving impulsivity in such individuals, so that the strengthening of early maladaptive schemas could be prevented, and patients could be helped to change their schemas.