Sense of Coherence as a Stable Predictor for Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) Outcome

Abstract

We studied stability of sense of coherence (SOC) over time and in relation to the outcomes of former heroin addicts in MMT. Between September of 2003 and April of 2006, all 90 newly admitted patients to a MMT clinic in Tel Aviv were studied and followed up for one year. A SOC (inner resources) questionnaire was done at baseline and after one year. Use of opiates, cocaine, benzodiazepines, cannabis and amphetamines in the 13 months after admission was recorded, and defined as positive if at least one urine test for any drug was positive. After one year, 77 (85.6%) stayed in treatment. SOC scores were similar at baseline and after one year, but were lower among 42 patients who still abused any drugs (118.8 + 27.4), compared with the 35 patients who did not (128.5 + 26.5, Repeated measures, Groups p = 0.003, Time effect p = 0.5, Time*Group p = 0.003). Cumulative retention revealed that 30 patients with SOC scores greater than 130 had longer retention (3.5 years, 95% CI 3.2-3.9) as compared with 60 patients with SOC scores of 130 or less (2.9 years, 95% CI 2.5-3.3). SOC is a stable parameter that can serve as a predictor for success in MMT, both as retention in treatment and drug abstinence.

Psychological Predictors of Retention in a Low-Threshold Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Opioid Addicts: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study

“…Abramsohn, Peles, Potik, Schreiber, & Adelson, (2009) reported that a greater sense of coherence was associated with longer retention in treatment. A surprising result was that stages of change were not related to treatment retention in the present study, even when more stringent criteria were applied to categorize participants into a clearly defined stage of change (see Secondary analysis).…”

Community Sense of Coherence Among Adolescents as Related to Their Involvement in Risk Behaviors

“…For example, SOC was found to be a strong protective factor, explaining negative attitudes toward alcohol consumption and drug abuse among high school students (Sagy, Shani, & Leibovich, ). A strong SOC is also related to positive intervention outcomes in rehabilitation programs (Abramsohn, Peles, Potick, Schreiber, & Adelson, ), while a weak SOC is typical among drug addicts (Chen, ). SOC was also indicated as meaningful in the context of interpersonal violence.…”

The Relationship Between Vulnerable Attachment Style, Psychopathology, Drug Abuse, and Retention in Treatment Among Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients

“…Patients who abused drugs only once (at study entry or at follow-up) or did not abuse at all had longer cumulative retention compared to patients who abused drugs both at study entry and during the follow-up. As had been indicated in previous studies, drug abstinence constitutes a reliable and accurate measurement of MMT success, and it could serve as a predictor for treatment outcome (Abramsohn et al 2009;Peles, Schreiber & Adelson 2006).…”