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

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. 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) ‎and 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, helping patients with methadone treatment was more than those treated with buprenorphine. The majority of buprenorphine treated people were adolescents, and therefore, they showed disability in following the norms of the society, and thus, had a weaker sense of cooperation. In addition, NS was related to the consumption of more sedative substances, such as methadone. Additionally, in methadone treated individuals, there is a clear relationship between buprenorphine and more on helping and solving methods. Therefore, in such patients' rehabilitation and treatment programs, consideration of these criteria may increase the success of treatment and patients’ continuation of treatmen