Temperamental Characteristics and Problem-Solving Skills among Patients on Opioid Agonists

BACKGROUND: The study of temperament and problem-solving styles in people with substance abuse is important in promoting the functions of prevention and treatment of this social problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the nature and problem-solving skills of methadone treated patients with buprenorphine treated patients. METHODS: This study was performed on 62 patients and 54 patients randomly selected for buprenorphine and methadone treatment, respectively. The data was collected using Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) ýand the Problem-Solving Questionnaire designed by Cassidy and Long. FINDINGS: Novelty seeking (NS) was higher in patients treated with buprenorphine than those treated with methadone and cooperation was higher in methadone treated patients than those treated with buprenorphine. Moreover, helplessness in patients with methadone treatment was more than those treated with buprenorphine. CONCLUSION: The study of personality or temperamental characteristics (novelty seeking, cooperation, and etc.) and problem-solving styles in people on buprenorphine and methadone treatment is recommended because it may increase therapeutic success and patients’ adherence to treatment.