Comparative Analysis of Personality-Related and Value-and-Meaning-Related Characteristics of Narcological Patients and Healthy Individuals (Abstainers) in Terms of Tertiary Prevention

INTRODUCTION: Achievement of absolute sobriety, its maintenance and preservation are the main tasks of the stage of tertiary prophylaxis of narcological patients. AIM: To perform a comparative analysis of personality- and value-and-meaning-related characteristics of narcological patients with syndrome of addiction to psychoactive substances, with similar characteristics of healthy individuals without significant experience in use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances (absolute and relative abstainers). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The age, gender, level of education, experience in use of nicotine in the past and present, leading coping strategies, levels of religiosity and magic thinking have been studied. RESULTS: Two diametrically opposite images of abstainers were identified: on the one end individuals with higher level of education and lower levels of religiosity and magic thinking, and on the other individuals with lower level of education, but higher levels of religiosity and magic thinking. The group of abstainers is in general characterized by absence of the experience in nicotine use. CONCLUSION: Taking into account personality- and value-and-meaning-related characteristics helps more accurately determine the goals and directions of psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation measures, to differentiate patients according to rehabilitation programs, increases the level of motivation and adherence to treatment, which in turn leads to a longer and stable remission.