Exploring Personality and Readiness to Change in Patients With Substance Use Disorders With and Without ADHD.

OBJECTIVE To explore personality and readiness to change among substance use disorders (SUD) patients with and without ADHD. METHOD SUD + ADHD versus SUD - ADHD patients consecutively entering treatment between 2010 and 2012 were compared concerning personality (Temperament and Character Inventory) and readiness to change (Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale). RESULTS Among 103 SUD patients (76 men, age M = 43.3, SD = 11.1), 16 (15.5%) were diagnosed with ADHD. SUD + ADHD patients reported significantly elevated eagerness to effort ( p = .008) compared with SUD - ADHD patients, who reported significantly elevated fear of uncertainty ( p < .000). SUD + ADHD patients reported higher ambition ( p = .025), self-forgetfulness ( p = .029), and lower recognition ( p = .022). They were younger ( p = .019) and showed more often amphetamine addiction ( p = .022) compared with SUD - ADHD patients. CONCLUSION The distinct characteristics found in SUD + ADHD and SUD - ADHD patients underline the need for differentiated treatment interventions.