Allostatic load in opioid use disorder: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Opioid use disorder (OUD) impacts millions in the USA, leading to significant annual overdose deaths.
• While the neurobiology of addiction is understood, prognosticators for OUD morbidity and mortality are lacking.
• Allostatic load index shows promise as a predictor for morbidity and mortality across various populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing evidence on allostatic load in the context of opioid use disorder.
• To identify current knowledge gaps regarding the prognostic value of allostatic load for OUD.
• To lay the groundwork for future prospective studies.

Main Methods:

• The review will follow the Arksey and O'Malley five-step scoping review methodology.
• Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, with no publication year limit.
• Reference lists of included articles and grey literature will be hand-searched.

Main Results:

• Data will be analyzed and presented thematically in narrative, tabular, and diagrammatic formats.
• This protocol outlines the systematic approach to synthesizing current research.
• The review will map the existing literature on allostatic load and OUD.

Conclusions:

• This scoping review protocol provides a framework for understanding the current evidence base.
• Identifying knowledge gaps will guide future research into allostatic load as a prognostic tool for OUD.
• The findings will contribute to developing better prognostication tools for OUD patients.