Improvement of quality of life in methadone treatment patients in northern Taiwan: a follow-up study

This study examined long-term improvement of quality of life amongst heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). The sample contained 553 heroin-dependent individuals from 4 hospitals in northern Taiwan who enrolled in MMT for an average of 184 days. Each patient signed a consent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC psychiatry 2013-07, Vol.13 (1), p.190-190, Article 190
Main Authors: Chou, Ying-Chun, Shih, Shu-Fang, Tsai, Wei-Der, Li, Chiang-shan R, Xu, Ke, Lee, Tony Szu-Hsien
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Complications and side effects
Dosage and administration
Drug use
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Heroin
Heroin Dependence - drug therapy
Heroin Dependence - psychology
Heroin Dependence - rehabilitation
Humans
Illegal drugs
Male
Methadone - therapeutic use
Methadone hydrochloride
Middle Aged
Mortality
Narcotics - therapeutic use
Opiate Substitution Treatment - psychology
Prospective Studies
Psychiatry
Quality of life
Quality of Life - psychology
Studies
Substance abuse treatment
Surveys
Surveys and Questionnaires
Taiwan
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Summary:This study examined long-term improvement of quality of life amongst heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). The sample contained 553 heroin-dependent individuals from 4 hospitals in northern Taiwan who enrolled in MMT for an average of 184 days. Each patient signed a consent form and was assessed prospectively 3 times semi-annually. Quality of life was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, 26 items of which were scored by the participants. The WHOQOL-BREF consists of four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. 285 and 155 participants completed 6-month and 12-month follow-ups respectively. After controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, there were statistically significant improvements in the psychological and environmental domains between baseline and 6 months. Significant improvements were found in psychological and social domains between baseline and 12 months. It is concluded that methadone maintenance treatment improves heroin users' long-term quality of life in the psychological and social relationship domains.
ISSN:1471-244X
1471-244X
DOI:10.1186/1471-244x-13-190