Adolescentes con trastorno por consumo de sustancias: Una caracterización de personalidad a través de las normas chilenas del MACI / Application of Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) to drug abuser adolescents

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescence is the most vulnerable development stage to start drug abuse in our country. Moreover, adolescent personality may be an individual rísk factor for drug abuse. Aim: To characterize the personality of adolescent drug abusers using the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) and its Chilean norms. Patients and methods: Adolescents consulting in a mental health facility were studied. MACI was applied to 46 subjects, aged 16 ± 1 years (30 males) with a history of drug abuse and compared with 58 peers aged 15 ± 2 years (34 males) without such history. Results: Male and female drug abuser adolescents had a transgressor type of personality. Males had a high degree of sociability and unrestrained sexuality while females present signs of sexual abuse, suicide rísk, and a more severe personality disorder. Conclusions: The personality traits detected in this group of drug abuser adolescents using Chilean norms is similar to those detected abroad and should help to plan rehabilitation.