Opioid Use Disorders and Perceived Social Isolation: A Latent Profile Analysis

The goal of this study was to characterize a sample of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) reporting perceived social isolation (PSI) using latent profile analyses.

Individuals with OUD reporting PSI (n = 125) were recruited for a clinical trial to address PSI. Measures assessing PSI, quantity of social interactions, perceived social support, and opioid use were used to create latent profiles. Additional characteristics including other substance use, substance use consequences, depression, anxiety, belongingness, and burdensomeness were assessed to differentiate the profiles.

Latent profile analyses revealed 3 profiles, each of which reported high PSI and low quantity of social interactions as well as low perceived social support but varied based on days using opioids. Profile 1 (n = 36; labeled Low Frequency Use) had less frequent opioid use with few social interactions and lower perceived social support. Profile 2 (n = 17; Occasionally Abstinent) used opioids daily, had few social interactions, and had higher perceived social support. Profile 3 (n = 72; Frequent Use) used opioids daily. Low Frequency Use participants engaged in polysubstance use on less days and were more diverse in gender and race.

This study identified three classes of individuals with OUD and elevated PSI that were differentiated primarily by frequency of opioid use, while all classes reported high loneliness and low social support. Although exploratory, outcome analyses suggested that the classes were clinically meaningful, with differences in polysubstance use and drug consequences, and warrant replication in larger samples.