title: Correlates of depressive symptoms among alcohol-using methadone maintained adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol-using clients are considered at great risk for hepatitis and ongoing liver damage. This study explores the correlates of depression among a sample of methadone maintained treatment (MMT) adults in the Los Angeles area, and is part of a larger study on hepatitis health promotion among MMT clients who use alcohol.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine correlates of depressive symptoms among moderate and heavy alcohol-using adults enrolled in methadone maintenance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted of baseline data from a randomized control trial of adults (N= 189) receiving MMT in Los Angeles. Depressive symptoms were measured with the 10-item short-form CES-D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analysis revealed that pain and social support were key correlates of depressive symptoms. More pain was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (p= .001), while more social support was related to lower depressive symptom severity (p= .001). Having been in sufficiently poor health that a blood transfusion, clotting factors, or an organ transplant was necessary was associated with greater depressive symptomatology, as was having injected drugs in the past month (p= .024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from this investigation can aid clinicians in selecting clients to monitor for early signs of depression and encourage early treatment for opioid users with comorbidities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of an interdisciplinary team to care for MMT clients, routinely screen for depressive symptoms, and emphasize adequate pain control is indicated.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California-Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. anyamath@sonnet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nyamathi
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Albarrán
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branson
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marfisee
authors.forename: Farinaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khalilifard
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone