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

Abstract

BackgroundThis study examined long-term improvement of quality of life amongst heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).MethodsThe 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.ResultsAfter 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.ConclusionsIt is concluded that methadone maintenance treatment improves heroin users’ long-term quality of life in the psychological and social relationship domains.

Improvement of Quality of Life and Mental Health in Methadone Maintenance Therapy

“…MMT improved significantly the quality of life of MMT outpatients (1,9,16,19,27,28). In this study quality of life scores were shown to have improved in direct proportion to the MMT duration; nevertheless.…”

“…Some studies demonstrated that MMT continually improved outpatients' mental health. 1,9,27,30 Also employment, marriage, health (affected by an underlying chronic disease) and education are the most important factors that may affect DASS subscales scores.…”

“…This questionnaire is appropriate for the assessment of outpatients receiving MMT. 9,16,19 The validity, reliability, internal consistency, and dimensional structure of the Farsi version of WHOQOL-BREF in an Iranian population was approved (Cronbach's alpha=0.70).…”

“…[6][7][8] Owing to the high morbidity and mortality addicts are often infected with, which are known to be ongoing during years of dependence, addition can be considered as a chronic condition. 9,10 Proposed by WHO as the efficient therapeutic modality in opioid dependence, MMT (Methadone Maintenance Therapy) has been implemented as an effective harm reduction programme the world over, 11,12 practiced in Iran since 2003. Korasan Razavi, a northern state with joined borders with Afghanistan, accommodates more than 500 MMT clinics.…”

Re-entry and related predictors among HIV-infected clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment in Guangdong province, China

“…Decades of experience have demonstrated that methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is currently the most effective intervention measure for controlling opioid use and its related HIV transmission among opioid users (4)(5)(6). Meanwhile, MMT could improve stability for society (7) and help drug users recover their physical and social functions (8)(9)(10).…”