Evaluation of early maladaptive schemas among 20-45 year old addicted and non addicted men in Qom

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of early maladaptive schemas among addicts and non-addicted men in Qom city. The tool used for data collection is the questionnaire of early maladaptive schemas (short form YSQ-SF). Statistical indices and methods including mean, standard deviation and independent t-test were used to analyze the data. The results showed a significant difference (0.01) between drug dependent (addicted) and non-dependent groups. The mean scores of early maladaptive schemas were significantly higher in the substance abusers than in the normal subjects. In other words, drug-addicted men have a higher degree of maladaptive core beliefs and maladaptive cognition than non-addicted men. This discrepancy was most evident in early maladaptive schemes such as abandonment, mistrust, mistreatment, defect and shame, vulnerability to harm and disease.