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Abstract
The thesis contains introduction (4chapters), alms and hypothesis, methods, results, discussion and references.
120 patients aged 20 to 6’9 years with history of opiate use and established a diagl10sis of opiate dependence aocording to rCD 10 (Wor1d Health organisation, 1992) under the care of Addictive Behaviour Centre, Birmingham, and consented to share in the study were eligible. EXClusion criteria were history of psyohotic disorder head injury or alcohol depelldence syndrome. A hundred individuals were a control group of family members or friends to guarantee a degree of similar social background with no history of drug dependence syndrome was used. Onset was defined as the trme in which a parttclpant rt3gularly used opiates and went to develop symptoms that met the ICD 10 criteria of opiate dependence syndrome (F11.2: WHO, 1992). All patients had urine screening showed positive
for opiates use. Compared with the normal control SUbjects, they were of similar
age 33.3 years (20-69 years) VS 36.5 years (2.0’-54 years), m,lle/female ratio {90f30 VS 66/34). Patients group had grealer unemployment rate (69.2% VS 48%). The contro’ group had markedly higher rate of no life events {19%)
compared to opiate dependence group (7.5%). The opiates dependence psrlsnts had higher number of life events (mean 5.6~ 1”20) than Ihe control group (mean
3.9; 1-20). which was higtlly significant p.: 003. Arguments between parents were the most recognised negative life events reported by both opiate dependence patients (50.8%) and control group (38%) during chlldhood lime {under age ts), There was a significant difference between the two groups,