Wesley F. Ross

The Decline of the Addict as “Psychopath”: Implications for Community Care

The recent passage of the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act (NARA) has caused major changes in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependent persons; greater responsibility is placed upon the local communities for the treatment and aftercare of addicts. The present study compares addicts admitted into the Clinical Research Center at Lexington under NARA provisions with previous categories of patients, and finds that the MMPI peaks of civilly committed patients show the broadest spectrum of psychopathology among the four groups studied. The greater heterogeneity of NARA patients argues for diversified approaches to treatment and aftercare in the community.

Effectiveness of Marathon Group Psychotherapy with Hospitalized Female Narcotics Addicts

The effectiveness of marathon group psychotherapy vs daily group psychotherapy was examined by comparing changes in the personality test scores of small matched groups of hospitalized female narcotic addicts. Although both treatments reduced scores on the “neurotic triad” of the MMPI, the marathon treatment also appeared to change specific attitudes toward criminal and drug subcultures.

RELATION OF A MEASURE OF VOCABULARY SKILL TO THE WAIS

The present study examined the relationship between a short, self-administered test of vocabulary skill and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The results showed that the self-administered vocabulary scale was significantly related to WAIS Full Scale and Verbal IQs and that it showed satisfactory reliability for addict patients. The scale appears useful as a brief intellectual screening device.