Depression in methadone maintenance treatment patients: rate and risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Depression is widely prevalent among former heroin addicts in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). The risk factors for depression among MMT patients that have not been well characterized, was studied.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study (January, 2004-August, 2005), 90 MMT patients were evaluated for depression by the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (21-HAM-D) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating scale (BPRS). To study possible induction of depression by drug abuse, urine samples tested for opiates, cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine), benzodiazepines (BDZ), cannabis (THC), amphetamines and methadone metabolite during 1 month preceding study entry: a drug was defined as being positive if at least one sample was positive.


RESULTS
The 21-HAM-D and BPRS scores were significantly correlated (Pearson R=0.76, p<0.0005). Fifty percent were found to be suffering from depression (21-HAM-D, scored > or = 18). Fifteen new patients in MMT had better scores (5.1+/-5.7) than continuous patients (17.7+/-6.2, p<0.0005), independent of treatment duration. Higher scores were in 51 patients with any Axis I psychiatric diagnosis (18.9+/-5.7 vs. 11.4+/-7.9, p<0.0005), 74 abusing and or using prescribed BDZ (16.3+/-7.4 vs. 11.7+/-8, p=0.03), and 36 prescribed more than one type of medication (17.5+/-7.3 vs. 14.2+/-7.7, p=0.05). Females (N=40) had poorer scores than males (17.6+/-7 vs. 14.1+/-7.9, p=0.03), especially 12 admitted into treatment while pregnant (20.2+/-4.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Patient drug abuse and withdrawal could distort evaluation and lead to misclassification of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The major risk factors for depression were already being in MMT, female gender, any DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric diagnosis, taking any psychotropic medication, abuse or using prescribed BDZ, and methadone dose > 120 mg/day.
Peles
Einat
E
Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment and Research, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. einatp@tasmc.health.gov.il
Schreiber
Shaul
S
Naumovsky
Yosef
Y
Adelson
Miriam
M
D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
D009294:Narcotics; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003042:Cocaine; D008691:Methadone