Publications by authors named "Mary Lonergan-Cullum"
Introduction: Effective adjunctive therapeutic treatments for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) on medication for OUD (MOUD) in primary care settings are needed to address high rates of mental illness and stress. Behavioral activation (BA) is a brief, evidence-based therapy that has potential to improve quality of life in people with OUD. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of values-based BA (VBA) as an adjunct treatment for patients receiving MOUD in primary care.
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- Traditional measures of success for opioid use disorder treatment focus on retention and abstinence, but this study identifies additional important outcomes based on perspectives from both patients and physicians.
- The research involved interviewing 18 patients and 14 physicians to assess perceived indicators of success in medication-assisted treatment, generating seven key themes, including improved health and relationships, tapering medication, and reduced stigma.
- The findings highlight the need for a broader understanding of treatment success that encompasses various aspects of well-being beyond just sobriety, advocating for better outcome measures and potential supplementary treatments in primary care settings.
Article Synopsis
- Loneliness is a personal feeling of being less socially connected to others than desired, leading to negative mental health and physical effects.
- The COVID-19 pandemic worsened loneliness due to social distancing, with about 20% of American adults already feeling lonely before it hit.
- Primary care clinicians are encouraged to screen for loneliness, offer supportive consultations, and refer patients to resources, making loneliness assessments a standard part of patient care.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) continues to be a significant problem in the United States, contributing to overdose and death. Recent efforts to expand access to treatment of OUD in primary care have increased the availability of medications for OUD (MOUDs). However, OUD is often accompanied by poor mental health and well-being, and it is not known if treatment with MOUDs alone is associated with improved psychological well-being.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Opioid use disorder is a prevalent and chronic condition that can lead to adverse outcomes if untreated. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine in a primary care setting has the potential to increase availability of treatment and reduce harm; however, retention in MAT is key for patient success. This study's purpose was to examine predictors of retention in a MAT program for OUD in a family medicine residency clinic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimary care is an ideal setting to deliver efficacious treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Primary care providers need to be aware of other concerns patients with OUD might have in order to provide comprehensive care. This study describes the prevalence of mental health, comorbid substance use, and psychosocial concerns of patients seeking treatment for OUD in primary care and their relation to 6-month treatment retention.
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