Self-reported psychopathology and health-related quality of life in heroin users treated with methadone.

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013; 9: 41-8
Chen YZ, Huang WL, Shan JC, Lin YH, Chang HC, Chang LR

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains poor among heroin users, even after being treated with methadone. Evidence regarding self-reported psychopathology and HRQoL in heroin users is also limited. The present study aimed to investigate the association between self-reported psychopathology and HRQoL in Asian heroin users treated with methadone.Thirty-nine heroin users treated with methadone and 39 healthy controls were recruited. Both groups self-reported on demographic data, the Brief Symptom Rating Scale, EuroQoL-5D, and World Health Organization Questionnaire on Quality of Life: Short Form. We compared clinical characteristics, psychopathology, and HRQoL between the two study groups. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to explore the association between psychopathology and HRQoL in the heroin user group.Heroin users had more psychopathology and worse HRQoL than healthy controls. The HRQoL of heroin users had significant correlations with Brief Symptom Rating Scale scores. HRQoL could be predicted by depression, anxiety, paranoia, and additional symptoms (ie, poor appetite and sleep difficulties) independently.Self-reported psychopathology, depression, anxiety, paranoia, poor appetite, and sleep difficulties had a negative impact on each domain of HRQoL among heroin users treated with methadone. The importance of the environmental domain of HRQoL is discussed. Clinicians should recognize comorbid psychiatric symptoms early on to improve HRQoL in heroin users.
HubMed – Methadone

Evaluation of the quality of life (whoqol-bref) among methadone and suboxone substitution state program patients and healthy volunteers in georgia.

Georgian Med News. 2012 Dec; 44-7
Piralishvili G, Gamkrelidze I, Nikolaishvili N, Chavchanidze M

Aims – to evaluate QOL patients being treated with methadone and Suboxone in State-sponsored programs in Georgia. The WHOQOL-BREF (26 questions) version was administered to patients in State substitution program and healthy volunteers to assess their overall function and life satisfaction in physical, mental, social health, and environment domains. Domain scores were calculated and converted to 4-20 and 0-100 scales, identical to the WHOQOL-100. 485 patients (309 from 6 Tbilisi and 176 from 5 regional centers) and 50 healthy volunteers (13 male, 37 female) were surveyed. Significant differences were observed between new admitted patients (0-3 month) and healthy controls by mean physical (47.5 vs. 51.94; CI 95%); psychological (55.0 vs. 60.50; CI 95%) and environmental (46.2 vs. 52.2; CI 95%) domains, but not by social relationships or between Tbilisi and regions. The Social domain scores were raised in accordance with time spent in treatment reaching a maximum improvement within 1-3 years (social- 72.8 vs. 67.7; CI 95%), further with few descending tends round the healthy people’s scores. These pilot data show decrements in QOL among patients entering maintenance treatment with improvements in the course of maintenance treatment. It is possible that the increased indicators in social domain up to especially high level within the first 3 years is the result of subjective factors, with the subsequent return to healthy community level.
HubMed – Methadone

[Evaluation on the long-term effectiveness among the first set eight methadone maintenance treatment clinics in China].

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2012 Sep; 33(9): 879-82
Cao XB, Wu ZY, Pang L, Rou KM, Wang CH, Luo W, Yin WY, Mi GD, Li JH,

To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the first set 8 methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in China.Repeated cross-sectional surveys were conducted on the first month after the enrollment and 5 years later, among drug users who received MMT, using a standard questionnaire. Data on demographic characteristics, HIV-related high-risk behaviors, criminal records associated with drug use and related family/social functions were collected and analyzed.There were 252 and 195 participants being interviewed at the baseline and the 5-year surveys, respectively. Of them, 66 participants were involved in both surveys. There was no significant differences on factors as ethnicity, level of education, working status, marital status and living status (P > 0.05) between the baseline and the 5-year surveys. Compared with data from the baseline survey, participants’ behavior on drug abuse (100.0% vs. 24.1%, P < 0.001), needle sharing behavior (19.4% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.001), and exchanging sex for drugs (34.5% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.001) had significant decreases at the 5-year survey. Rates on condom use (10.6% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.004), and having jobs (27.8% vs. 47.7%, P < 0.001) had been improved significantly, while self-reported criminal cases related to drug use (15.1% vs. 1.5%, P < 0.001) and the contacts with drug users (88.9% vs. 31.3%, P < 0.001) had been significantly reduced after joining the MMT program.MMT could play an active role in reducing the HIV-related high-risk behaviors, criminal cases associated with drug abuse as well as enhancing the family and social functions of the MMT patients. Providing high quality service to the MMT clinic and trying to keep the drug users stick to the program remain difficult. It was also important to improve the training programs for staff working at the MMT clinics. HubMed – Methadone

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