title: Health-related quality of life among prescription opioid-dependent patients: Results from a multi-site study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although prescription opioid use disorder has recently increased sharply in the United States, relatively little is known about the general well-being of this population. Assessment of quality of life in patients with substance use disorders has been recommended to improve clinical care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Health-related quality of life was examined in prescription opioid-dependent patients at entry to a national multi-site clinical trial, to compare quality of life scores in the study sample to other populations; further, background variables associated with quality of life in the literature were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prescription opioid-dependent patients (N = 653) were compared to general populations on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life measure; and the association between patient background variables and quality of life was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to a general population, the current sample of prescription opioid-dependent patients had worse physical (-1.7 points, p < .001) and mental quality of life (-12.3 points, p < .001) as measured by the SF-36, similar to other opioid-use disorder populations. Within our sample, women showed more impairment than men in mental quality of life (-4.3 points, p < .001); older patients scored worse on physical (-5.2 points, p < .001), but not mental, quality of life. Chronic pain was associated with poorer physical quality of life (-9.0 points, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The growing focus on wellness underscores the importance of measuring quality of life in addition to substance use outcomes. Routine assessment of health-related quality of life can add an important dimension to overall evaluation of patients' treatment response.
authors: Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Margaret L
authors: ML
authors: Griffin
authors: Heather E
authors: HE
authors: Bennett
authors: Garrett M
authors: GM
authors: Fitzmaurice
authors: Kevin P
authors: KP
authors: Hill
authors: Scott E
authors: SE
authors: Provost
authors: Roger D
authors: RD
authors: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid