Background: Despite clinical optimization of methadone doses, as many as 53% of patients experience significant and unacceptable levels inter-dose opioid withdrawal some of the time. Little is known about the relationship between perceived inter-dose opioid withdrawal and patient characteristics in methadone maintenance treatment.

Methods: Ninety stabilized MMT patients were recruited and divided into three satisfaction groups (holders (H), partial holders (PH), and nonholders (NH)) based on their perceived opioid withdrawal as assessed by a guided self-report process. A battery of subjective assessments was administered during the approximate trough methadone condition. The primary measures were the Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SubOWS), Hopkins Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Survey (OCDUS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Neo Personality Inventory (NEO).

Results: Nonholders experienced more opioid withdrawal (SubOWS-NH: 22.0+/-8.8 vs. PH: 12.2+/-8.2 vs. H: 9.3+/-10.0, p<0.001) and craving (OCDUS-NH: 11.4+/-8.8 vs. PH: 6.4+/-6.9 vs. H: 6.5+/-6.2, p=0.016). Holders experienced less Obsessive/Compulsive psychological distress (SCL-90-NH: 15.3+/-8.1 vs. PH: 12.3+/-7.3 vs. H: 6.6+/-5.1, p<0.001), Depression/Dejection (POMS-NH: 19.7+/-13.7 vs. PH: 17.2+/-13.2 vs. H: 7.9+/-10.4, p=0.002), and neurotic personality (NEO-NH: 63.3+/-12.3 vs. PH: 60.9+/-10.0 vs. H: 54.0+/-8.8, p=0.006). Partial holders had a less agreeable personality (NEO-NH: 44.2+/-8.6 vs. PH: 38.0+/-10.6 vs. H: 47.6+/-11.7, p=0.002).

Conclusions: Physical opioid withdrawal is an important factor in understanding patient satisfaction with MMT. However, patient characteristics, such as level of psychological distress and negative mood, may also need to be considered because of their relationship with perceived inter-dose opioid withdrawal symptoms and patient satisfaction.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.07.003DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

opioid withdrawal
24
inter-dose opioid
12
relationship perceived
8
perceived inter-dose
8
withdrawal patient
8
patient characteristics
8
characteristics methadone
8
methadone maintenance
8
opioid
6
withdrawal
6

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!