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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2024, 26, 1

Effect of changes in life-related factors on mood status and life quality of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) patients after withdrawal from MMT

Penghui Cao, Qiaofang Huang, Nannan Pan, Huaxin Li, Daoyi Feng, and Ziyan Fang

Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.62401/2531-4122-2024-1

Summary: Background A proportion of MMT patients suffer from anxiety and depression after withdrawing from methadone treatment, which may have a negative impact on their physical and mental health and social recovery and even increase their risk of relapse. Aim: This study investigates the effect of life-related factors on MMT patients' emotional status and quality of life after withdrawal from methadone maintenance treatment. Method Fifty-eight MMT patients who had withdrawn from methadone maintenance therapy were included in this study and followed up for one year. The socio-demographic, previous heroin use status and previous methadone therapy status were documented at the first-time interview. Anxiety level was evaluated by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Depression level was assessed by Beck Depression inventory-13 (BDI-13). The life quality of all participants was evaluated by The Quality of Life-Drug Addiction (QOL-DA). Data on life-related factors, anxiety status, depression status and quality of life were collected from all participants at both the first-time interview and the follow-up interview. Results. At the first interview, 24.1% of participants had varying degrees of depression, and 19% had varying degrees of anxiety. At the follow-up interview, one year later, as their marital status, living status and income status changed in a positive direction, their anxiety and depression had improved, and their life quality had also improved. Conclusions Changes in life-related factors in a positive order improve MMT patients’ emotional status and quality of life after withdrawal from methadone therapy.

Keywords: Methadone maintenance therapy; Life-related factors; Emotional problems; Life quality