The prevalence of mental and physical health disorders among older methadone patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aging opioid-addicted cohort from the 1970s has begun to alter the demographic characteristics of individuals in need of services for heroin addiction. Yet, despite clear trends that indicate the population of older methadone patients is increasing, little is known about their well-being and service needs. The goal of this study was to assess the physical and mental health status of older methadone patients.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews were conducted with study participants.


METHODS
This study was conducted at a free-standing methadone clinic in a Midwestern industrial city.


METHODS
A clinic sample of 140 adult methadone patients over the age of 50 was recruited for face-to-face interviews.


METHODS
Mental health status was assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The SF-12v2 was administered to measure a range of physical health issues. Participants were also asked about a variety of chronic conditions. In addition, respondents provided access to their drug screen results from monthly urine tests for illegal drug use for 1 year before and 1 year after the interview.


RESULTS
Findings revealed that over half (57.1%) of respondents had at least one mental health disorder in the past year. In the year before the interview, the most prevalent mental health disorder experienced by older adult patients was major depressive episode (32.9%). The most prevalent anxiety disorders were posttraumatic stress disorder (27.8%) and generalized anxiety disorder (29.7%). Additionally, women experienced significantly higher levels of depression than males (43.8% versus 27.2%), and nearly twice the prevalence rate of agoraphobia and panic disorders. Regarding physical health, respondents reported high rates of health problems in the past year, including arthritis (54.3%) and hypertension (44.9%). The majority of respondents reported having fair to poor physical health (57.7%). When examining the entire 24-month period during which urine data were collected, three quarters (76.4%) of the respondents had at least 1 month where the urine screen detected illegal drug use.


CONCLUSIONS
In the next decade, the growing and aging substance abusing population will require clinicians trained in both geriatrics and substance abuse. Health and mental health professionals have the opportunity to address the specialized needs of this population and prepare for the shifting service needs these older patients will require.
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. dar15@pitt.edu
Daniel
D
Rosen
Mary Lindsey
ML
Smith
Charles F
CF
Reynolds
D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone