European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AT THE INTERSECTION OF PERSONALITY AND ADDICTION: FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR PERSONALITY THEORY AND RESEARCH IN THE ERA OF GENOMIC MEDICINE

*Elizabeth Dale Gilley, MAP, PMC-Addictions

ABSTRACT

In the new era of genomic medicine, the interactive effects of genetic and epigenetic influence upon the development of substance use disorder (SUD), behavioral process addiction (BPA) comorbid mental health disorder (CMHD), as well as upon the development of personality, need to be considered in the design of personalized addiction recovery treatment plans. Twenty-first century holistic addiction treatment planning will consider the individual patient-client’s genome in treatment planning of both neurological and psychological issues. The science of personality psychology will be utilized in the development and personalization of short term, mid-range and long term substance use disorder and addiction recovery plans, which take into consideration personality type, temperament and trait analysis, to predict potential areas of increased risk to sustained abstinence and cessation of self-medication re-instatement of drug use, and those personality strengths which could potentially increase resilience, adaptation and facilitate wellbeing.

Keywords: addiction, substance use disorder, reconceptualizing addiction, reward deficiency syndrome and personality.