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Methadone maintenance outcome as a function of detoxification phobia
J B Milby1, A A Hohmann, M Gentile
1Psychology Service (116-B), VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35233.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Detoxification phobia in methadone patients is complex. While associated with abstinence, it hinders successful drug-free adjustment for some, often linked to other mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Methadone maintenance is a key treatment for opioid addiction.
- Understanding factors influencing treatment outcomes is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between detoxification phobia and methadone maintenance outcomes.
- To identify predictors of detoxification phobia in opioid-dependent individuals.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 271 methadone maintenance patients was studied.
- A subsample of 102 patients underwent individual assessment.
- Logistic regression analysis identified predictors of detoxification phobia.
Main Results:
- Patients with detoxification phobia were more likely to be white, female, and abstinent.
- They had fewer prior detoxification attempts and longer methadone maintenance durations.
- Phobic patients often met criteria for depressive or anxiety disorders and had high psychological problem scores on the Addiction Severity Index.
Conclusions:
- Detoxification phobia has a multifaceted connection to methadone maintenance outcomes.
- It correlates with increased abstinence but impedes successful detoxification for some patients.
- Associated psychopathology suggests a need for targeted assessment and treatment interventions.