Group-Based Strategies for Stress Reduction in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Abstract

Objectives To assess methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients’ willingness to use, and perceived efficacy of, conventional and unconventional group stress reduction treatments Methods A survey, developed by the authors, was administered to 150 MMT patients. Results Levels of treatment willingness and perceived efficacy for both conventional and unconventional treatments were relatively high; however, ratings for conventional interventions were, on average, significantly higher than those for unconventional ones. The highest rated conventional and unconventional treatments in terms of willingness and perceived efficacy were nutrition and spiritual counseling, respectively, while the lowest rated conventional and unconventional group treatments were anger management and visualization training, respectively. White race was a significant predictor of lower willingness to try conventional and unconventional group therapies and lower perceived efficacy of unconventional group treatment, while female sex and older age were significant predictors of higher levels of willingness to try unconventional group treatment. Higher levels of substance use problems were associated with increased willingness to try conventional group treatment. Higher levels of anxiety emerged as a significant independent predictor of treatment willingness and perceived efficacy for both conventional and unconventional group treatments. Conclusions The relatively high levels of treatment willingness and perceived efficacy of conventional and unconventional group stress reduction treatments point to the feasibility of offering these interventions in MMT and suggest that in particular high levels of anxiety are associated with greater treatment willingness and perceived treatment efficacy.

Gender-Specific Predictors of Retention and Opioid Abstinence During Methadone Maintenance Treatment

“…Most studies have found no differences in length of time in treatment between genders (Kelly et al, 2011;Peles et al, 2008), and others found that females were more likely than males to be retained in treatment N 1 year (Deck & Carlson, 2005;Hser, Anglin, & Liu, 1990). Interpretations for why females may remain in treatment longer than males include extra motivation to abstain from drug use to retain custody of children, and the finding that females tend to utilize support services such as group and individual therapy sessions more frequently than males (Barry et al, 2011;Schiff, Levit, & Moreno, 2007). Chronically heroin-dependent females (vs. males) have also been found to have poorer overall health status, more dysfunctional families of origin, and greater mental health problems (Chatham, Hiller, Rowan-Szal, Joe, & Simpson, 1999;Grella & Lovinger, 2012), perhaps motivating them to remain in care and use more treatment services.…”

Effects of treatment status and life quality on anxiety in MMT patients

“…To improve the current situation of limited psychological service resources in China, to equip methadone treatment centers with professional psychotherapists and to provide psychological intervention services for MMT patients are all indispensable. This is also advocated by relevant research [32,34].…”

Anxiety and Its Influencing Factors in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Users

“…Therefore, improving the current situation of limited psychological service resources in China and providing psychological intervention services (including psychological counseling, psychotherapy, social-family support) for MMT patients are conducive to reducing the risk of anxiety disorder. This is also advocated by relevant research 34,41 .…”