title: Twelve-month maintenance treatment of opium-dependent patients.
abstract: The goal of this study was to compare the effects of 1, 3 and 8 mg per day doses of buprenorphine in the maintenance treatment of opium-dependent subjects in Iran over a treatment period of 12 months. Participants were randomized to three equal groups (171 subjects per group) of opium-dependent individuals who met the DSM-IV criteria for opioid dependence and were seeking treatment. They were treated in an urban outpatient clinic, offering a 1-hour weekly individual counseling session. Overall, 282 subjects (55%) completed the 12 months study. Completion rates by dosage group were 46 (26.9%) for the 1 mg dose group, 102 (59.6%) for the 3 mg dose group, and 134 (78.4%) for the 8 mg dose group (p =.000). These findings are consistent with previous reports of effective buprenorphine use in western countries as a suitable maintenance treatment for opium dependence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 71345-1416, Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran. jamshid_ahmadi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Mohammadali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babaee-Beigi
authors.forename: Mohammadjavad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alishahi
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maany
authors.forename: Taghi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hidari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009892:Opium
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009892:Opium