Methadone dosage: patient characteristics and clinical correlates

This paper summarizes data for 106 male opioid addicts which give evidence that there are demographic and clinical differences between groups of patients maintained in three ranges of methadone dosage (less than 35 mg, 36-59 mg, greater than 60 mg). At time of admission the Addiction Severity Index was administered. During the first month of treatment a routine battery of psychological tests--including the MMPI-168, 16PF, Shipley Institute of Living Scale, and Trail Making Test--was also administered. High-dose subjects were under greater emotional distress and experienced more anxiety (p less than .05), had more medical hospitalizations (p less than .05), and had been treated more frequently with psychoactive medications (p less than .05). They also had histories of greater use of barbiturates (p less than .001) and amphetamines (p less than .01). While in treatment they more frequently had urinalyses positive for illicit drugs during the first 6 months (p less than .05). Low-dose subjects had fewer friends (p less than .05). The 1-year program retention rates were found to be lower for the medium-dose group (p less than .05).