Bettina Zippel-Schultz1, Michael Specka2, Konrad Cimander3, Thomas Eschenhagen4, Jörg Gölz5, Markus Maryschok1, Manfred Nowak6, Thomas Poehlke7, Heino Stöver8, Thomas M Helms1, Norbert Scherbaum2. 1. a Deutsche Stiftung für chronisch Kranke , Berlin , Germany. 2. b Klinik für abhängiges Verhalten und Suchtmedizin, LVR-Klinikum Essen, Kliniken/Institut der Universität Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany. 3. c Praxis für Allgemeinmedizin/Suchtmedizin , Hannover , Germany. 4. d Institut für klinische und experimentelle Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany. 5. e Praxiszentrum Kaiserdamm/Allgemeinmedizin , Berlin , Germany. 6. f Therapieverbund Ludwigsmühle , Landau/Pfalz , Germany. 7. g Praxis für Psychiatrie , Münster , Germany. 8. h Soziale Arbeit & Gesundheit, Frankfurt University of Applied Science , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of duration of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), only few studies have reported outcomes of long-term OMT. OBJECTIVES: To describe outcomes of long-term (> 5 years) OMT patients with respect to substance use, physical and mental health, and socioeconomic characteristics. METHODS: Patients (n = 160) were recruited from 15 OMT offices in different regions of Germany. Data were collected using a structured interview at baseline, and clinical recordings, including urine drug screenings, during 12 monhts follow-up. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 44 years. During follow-up, 23% of patients showed indications of an alcohol problem. Cannabis was used by 56%, often frequently. Heroin was used by 28%, mostly infrequently. Three quarters of patients either had a non-substance related mental disorder (48.1%, most frequently affective and anxiety disorders) or somatic diagnosis (61.3%, frequently hepatitis C, HIV, or cardiovascular diseases), or both. Unemployment rate was 43.1% at baseline (27% for patients without comorbidity) and remained generally stable during follow-up. No arrests or incarcerations were recorded. During follow-up, 2.5% of patients prematurely terminated OMT, 2.5% regularly completed OMT. CONCLUSIONS: The sample as a whole was characterized by stable living conditions, high unemployment, low illicit opiate use, and a high retention rate. Continuation of OMT could enable further treatment of comorbidity and prevent resumption of a drug-dominated lifestyle. But it may well be asked how within the context of OMT further improvements can be achieved, especially with regard to further decrease of alcohol use and the treatment of depression.
BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of duration of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), only few studies have reported outcomes of long-term OMT. OBJECTIVES: To describe outcomes of long-term (> 5 years) OMTpatients with respect to substance use, physical and mental health, and socioeconomic characteristics. METHODS:Patients (n = 160) were recruited from 15 OMT offices in different regions of Germany. Data were collected using a structured interview at baseline, and clinical recordings, including urine drug screenings, during 12 monhts follow-up. RESULTS:Patients had a mean age of 44 years. During follow-up, 23% of patients showed indications of an alcohol problem. Cannabis was used by 56%, often frequently. Heroin was used by 28%, mostly infrequently. Three quarters of patients either had a non-substance related mental disorder (48.1%, most frequently affective and anxiety disorders) or somatic diagnosis (61.3%, frequently hepatitis C, HIV, or cardiovascular diseases), or both. Unemployment rate was 43.1% at baseline (27% for patients without comorbidity) and remained generally stable during follow-up. No arrests or incarcerations were recorded. During follow-up, 2.5% of patients prematurely terminated OMT, 2.5% regularly completed OMT. CONCLUSIONS: The sample as a whole was characterized by stable living conditions, high unemployment, low illicit opiate use, and a high retention rate. Continuation of OMT could enable further treatment of comorbidity and prevent resumption of a drug-dominated lifestyle. But it may well be asked how within the context of OMT further improvements can be achieved, especially with regard to further decrease of alcohol use and the treatment of depression.
Authors: Ludwig Kraus; Nicki-Nils Seitz; Bernd Schulte; Peter Cremer-Schaeffer; Barbara Braun; Uwe Verthein; Tim Pfeiffer-Gerschel Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2019-03-01 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Hans-Gert Bernstein; Johann Steiner; Ulf J Müller; Moritz Ahrens; Veronika Vasilevska; Henrik Dobrowolny; Kolja Schiltz; Konstantin Schlaaff; Christian Mawrin; Thomas Frodl; Bernhard Bogerts; Tomasz Gos; Kurt Truebner Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2020-10-01 Impact factor: 5.270