Date of Award

Fall 12-2013

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Bradley Green

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Michael Anestis

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Richard Mohn

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Abstract

The current study developed profiles of eating disorder, personality, and other psychopathological symptoms related to the use of central nervous system stimulants versus other types of drug use. Participants included 124 women in residential treatment for substance use with and without comorbid eating disorders. Symptomatology was measured by the Eating Disorders lnventory-3 (EDI-3), Millon Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III), and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAl). The current study utilized a series of six multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) and discriminant analyses to determine patterns of psychopathology separating stimulant use from other drug use. Results indicated that women who used stimulants were primarily separated from women who used other drugs by scales measuring borderline personality pathology, and to a lesser extent, antisocial personality pathology. Stimulant users were also separated from other drug users by scales measuring diagnostic or associated features of borderline personality disorder (e.g., emotion dysregulation, suicide ideation, paranoia, aggression, drug use, and thought disturbance) and mood disturbance. Finally, stimulant users were differentiated from other drug users by a scale measuring extreme dieting and longing for thinness. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.

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