Ego development in opiate addicts. An application of Loevinger's stage model.

This paper reports findings from a study of ego functioning in a sample of 97 opiate addicts applying for treatment and a demographically matched control group of 29 applicants at a job training program. Level of ego development was evaluated using the Loevinger Sentence Completion Test. In addition, in the addict sample, we assessed the correlation between level of ego development and other clinical features including present and past drug use, criminal history, psychological symptoms, and social functioning. The mean ego development scores for the opiate addicts and controls were not significantly different although both groups achieved scores that were, on the average, one full stage lower than those obtained in other studies of nonclinical adult populations. Ego development ratings indicated that around one third of both addict and control groups seemed to be relying on internalized standards for self-regulation. Within the addict group, those at lower levels of ego development reported more psychological symptomatology, poorer social functioning, and heavier drug use. Implications for treatment planning and rehabilitative efforts are discussed.