title: Improvement of quality of life in methadone treatment patients in northern Taiwan: a follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined long-term improvement of quality of life amongst heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample contained 553 heroin-dependent individuals from 4 hospitals in northern Taiwan who enrolled in MMT for an average of 184 days. Each patient signed a consent form and was assessed prospectively 3 times semi-annually. Quality of life was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, 26 items of which were scored by the participants. The WHOQOL-BREF consists of four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. 285 and 155 participants completed 6-month and 12-month follow-ups respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, there were statistically significant improvements in the psychological and environmental domains between baseline and 6 months. Significant improvements were found in psychological and social domains between baseline and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that methadone maintenance treatment improves heroin users' long-term quality of life in the psychological and social relationship domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, No. 162, He-Ping East Road, Section 1, Taipei 10610, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Shu-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Wei-Der
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chiang-shan R
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tony Szu-Hsien
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone