Early maladaptive schemas in substance use disorder: A case-control study

INTRODUCTION: Early maladaptive schemas have been increasingly implicated in the development of numerous psychopathological conditions. However, research examining their association with substance use disorders remains limited. AIM: We aimed to identify and evaluate the activation levels of early maladaptive schemas in individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder in comparison to a healthy control group. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, analytic, and case-control study over four months (December 2023 - April 2024). Our investigation included 50 subjects with a substance use disorder who presented to the outpatient department or the Tanit Center of RAZI HospitalControl subjects were recruited from the Manouba dispensary. The two groups were compared using Young Schemas Questionnaire scores. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 33.7 years. The sex ratio was 3.17. The most frequently used substances were cannabis (74%) and alcohol (54%). Subjects diagnosed with a substance use disorderhad significantly higher mean scores compared with controls for emotional deprivation (p