Perfil criminológico en pacientes adictos en tratamiento

Abstract

Resumen AbstractThis study explores the prevalence of criminal behaviour in patients addicted to drugs who are in treatment. A sample of 252 addicted patients (203 male and 49 female) who sought outpatient treatment at a specialized centre was assessed. Information on criminal behaviours, socio-demographic factors, consumption factors (assessed by the EuropAsi), psychopathological factors (assessed by SCL-90-R) and personality variables (assessed by MCMI-II) was collected. Patients presenting criminal behaviour were compared with those who were not associated with crime for all the variables studied. The rate of drug-addicted patients with criminal behaviour in this sample was 60.3%(n = 150), and it was mainly related to traffic offenses, followed by drug dealing offenses. Significant differences were observed between patients with and without criminal behaviour. Patients with criminal problems were mostly men and single. Moreover, they were more likely to report polyconsumption. Furthermore, significant differences were observed on several variables: EuropAsi, SCL-90-R and MCMI-II. According to these results, patients with associated criminal behaviour presented a more severe addiction problem. The implications of these findings for clinical practice and future research are discussed.Keywords: drug addiction; crime; assessment; comorbidity; outpatient treatment.En este estudio se lleva a cabo un análisis de la prevalencia de conductas delictivas en pacientes adictos en tratamiento. Para ello se cuenta con una muestra de 252 pacientes adictos (203 hombres y 49 mujeres) que acudieron en busca de tratamiento ambulatorio a un centro especializado. En la evaluación se recogió información sobre las conductas delictivas, las características sociodemográficas, las variables de consumo (evaluadas con el EuropASI), la sintomatología psicopatológica (evaluada con el SCL-90-R) y las variables de personalidad (evaluada con el MCMI-II). Los pacientes que presentaban conductas delictivas fueron comparados con los que no las presentaban en todas las variables estudiadas. La tasa de pacientes adictos implicados en actos delictivos fue del 60,3% (n = 150). Las conductas delictivas se relacionaban principalmente con delitos de conducción, seguido por delitos de tráfico de drogas. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre los pacientes con y sin conductas delictivas. Los pacientes con actos delictivos eran principalmente hombres y solteros. Además, era más probable que presentaran policonsumo de sustancias. Asimismo, se observaron diferencias significativas en varias variables del EuropASI, SCL-90-R y MCMI-II. Con arreglo a estos resultados, los pacientes con conductas delictivas asociadas presentaban una mayor gravedad en su adicción. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados para la práctica clínica y la investigación futura.Palabras clave: drogadicción; delito; evaluación; comorbilidad; tratamiento ambulatorio. recibido: Julio 2012 aceptado: Febrero 2013Perfil criminológico en pacientes adictos en tratamiento

The Effect of Treatment Motivation Levels on Patients Sent to a Conditional Substance Abuse Treatment Program

“…Substance abusers and narcotic addicts may be involved in other crimes (violence, traffic accidents, etc.) because of the influence or purchasing/selling of drugs (Fernandez et al, 2013). This situation is a risk factor, considered as a reason for crime, especially among the younger population.…”

“…Thus, in recent years practitioners and researchers are increasingly interested in understanding the substance abuse treatment process and factors that affect treatment motivation (Simoneau & Bergeron, 2003). The current situation of patients should be well known to provide adaptation and create behavioral changes among patients (Fernandez-Montalvo, Lopez-Goni, Arteaga, & Cacho, 2013). Studies regarding traditional behavior modification approaches are mostly conducted by ignoring the individual's current stage of change or considering patients when they are ready for behavior modification.…”