Cognitive representations in alcohol and opiate abuse: The role of core beliefs

Abstract

There are clinical indications that alcohol and drug abuse are associated with unhealthy core beliefs (unconditional, schema-level representations). This study examined levels of such cognitions among four groups: alcohol abusers; opiate abusers; combined alcohol and opiate abusers; and a non-clinical group. Each patient completed the short version of the Young Schema Questionnaire, measuring levels of 15 pathological core beliefs. These schema-level cognitions were less healthy in the clinical groups than in the non-clinical group, particularly among individuals who abused alcohol. These findings provide preliminary support for the utility of therapies that address schema-level representations among substance abusers.