Methadone Patients: dosage, psychopathology, and research participation

High and low dose methadone patients from a private methadone clinic were studied to determine whether severity of psychopathology is correlated with methadone dosage. It was found that methadone dosage was not positively correlated with psychopathology, but that diffuse nonspecific psychopathology was observed in all participants. Despite financial incentives it was very difficult to obtain the participation of many individuals in the clinic, and those who agreed to participate saw the research as a means to obtain personal psychiatric treatment. This differential participation based on viewing the research as "therapeutic" must be considered in future evaluation of methadone treatment.