Methadone maintenance outcome as a function of detoxification phobia.
OBJECTIVE
Methadone maintenance outcome as a function of detoxification phobia was examined.


METHODS
Opiate addicts (N = 271) in a 1983 random sample of methadone maintenance patients from three diverse populations were studied. Subjects from an individually assessed follow-up sample (N = 102) were compared on detoxification phobia. Logistic regression analysis yielded best predictors of the phobia.


RESULTS
Phobic patients were more likely to be white, female, and abstinent; to have had fewer detoxification attempts and longer periods on maintenance; to show persistence of the phobia; to meet diagnostic criteria for depressive or anxiety disorders; and to have Addiction Severity Index scores above the 75th percentile for psychological problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Detoxification phobia has a complex relationship to methadone maintenance outcome. It is associated with greater abstinence for patients in methadone maintenance treatment. However, for rehabilitated phobic patients it presents a barrier to successful detoxification and a drug-free adjustment that is often associated with other psychopathology but could be ameliorated by targeted assessment and treatment.
Milby
J B
JB
Psychology Service (116-B), VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35233.
Hohmann
A A
AA
Gentile
M
M
Huggins
N
N
Sims
M K
MK
McLellan
A T
AT
Woody
G
G
Haas
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011613:Psychotherapy; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008691:Methadone