title: Gender differences in hostility of opioid-dependent outpatients: role in early treatment termination.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate gender differences in hostility and the role of hostility in predicting early treatment termination of opioid-dependent outpatients. Demographic characteristics and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) ratings were collected from 104 patients (68 males and 36 females) at intake to a buprenorphine treatment program. Hostility was assessed using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Scale. Compared to male opioid-dependent patients, females scored significantly higher on this scale. Early treatment termination was defined as remaining in treatment < 30 days, and 13% percent of males and 25% of females were classified as early terminators. Stepwise logistic regression identified predictors of early treatment termination. Severity of legal and employment problems and the interaction between hostility and gender predicted early treatment termination status. Patients with less severe legal problems and patients with greater employment problems were more likely to terminate early from treatment. Higher levels of hostility predicted early treatment termination of female patients, but hostility levels were not associated with treatment termination in male patients. Results from this study show that female heroin addicts have high levels of hostility and suggest that hostility may be an important predictor of premature discharge from opioid substitution programs, especially among women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Substance Abuse Treatment Center, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401, USA. petry@psychiatry.uchc.edu
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Petry
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Bickel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009271:Naltrexone