Michael P. Dolan

Ethnicity: Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) differences among black, white, and Hispanic veterans who differ in degrees of exposure to combat in Vietnam

Clinical observations and empirical evidence suggest that, among Vietnam combat veterans, Blacks are more maladjusted than Whites (e.g., Parsons, 1985; Penk et al., 1985). The prediction that minority group status is associated with poorer post-war adjustment and higher rates of PTSD was examined among Vietnam combat veterans who were seeking treatment for addiction disorders. Adjustment scores among groups comparable in combat exposure were found to be similar for both Whites and Hispanics; Blacks, however, score significantly higher on both PTSD symptoms on MMPI scales. These findings indicate that ethnicity contributes importantly to PTSD in selected instances, but that minority group status alone does not account for observed differences. Additional research is indicated in which careful attention is given to the complicating and interacting role of addiction disorders in sampling.

The effect of increased cocaine use on drug treatment

Abstract Trends in primary illicit drug use were monitored in an inpatient drug treatment program over a 10-year period, along with illicit drug use in a methadone maintenance program over a six-year period. The percentage of cocaine users admitted for inpatient treatment showed an increase for each six-month interval over the past three-year period. Cocaine was found to be the most frequently used illicit drug by methadone maintenance clients, and its continued use disrupted both inpatient and outpatient treatment. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Predicting the outcome of contingency contracting for drug abuse

Contingency contracting was used in an attempt to reduce the illicit drug use of 21 methadone maintenance outpatients. Eleven subjects (compliers) showed a significant reduction in illicit drug use whereas 10 subjects (violators) showed no significant change. Subject variables differentiating the two groups were examined. The variables were divided into three categories: personality (MMPI scale scores); demographic (age, education, race, marital status, and employment status); and treatment history (methadone dosage level, years of narcotic addiction, attempts at detoxification, duration of current methadone treatment, total duration of methadone treatment, frequency of drug use during baseline, and types of drugs during baseline). Treatment history variables were most useful for differentiating the two groups.

A Programmed Training Technique That Uses Reinforcement to Facilitate Acquisition and Retention in Brain-Damaged Patients.

Hospitalized brain-damaged patients were Ss in a study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment technique used with contingent reinforcement to facilitate acquisition and retention of environmentally relevant information. Ss were divided into three groups that were equated diagnostically and demographically. Group I received the treatment technique with contingent material and verbal reinforcement. Group II received the treatment technique with only contingent verbal reinforcement, and Group III was a control. Both treatment groups showed significant acquisition of the experimental information, and 1 week after training the two treatment groups showed no significant loss of acquired information. None of the groups showed any significant change in ward behavior during the experiment. It was concluded that the treatment technique used with contingent reinforcement can be used in the retraining of memory in brain-damaged patients.

Personality differences among black, white, and Hispanic-American male heroin addicts on MMPI content scales†

Used MMPI Content Scale scores (Wiggins, 1966) to assess personality differences among black, white, and Hispanic-American heroin addicts. Ss were 423 male veterans who volunteered for the first time for treatment between 1972 and 1979 to an inpatient Drug Dependence Treatment Program (DDTP) of a Veterans Administration Medical Center. Two hypotheses were tested: First, that minority group heroin addicts (blacks and Hispanics) will show better adjustment than majority group (white) heroin addicts; second, that Hispanic-American heroin addicts will evidence personality characteristics unlike those of either whites or blacks. Both hypotheses were confirmed. Results were interpreted as supporting cultural theories of substance abuse and providing implications for diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse disorders among minority ethnic groups.