title: Perceived stress related to methadone withdrawal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stress is a known risk factor in addiction relapse, and prior studies show that relapse induced by stress may be more likely than drug-cue induced relapse. The main goal of our research was to establish the influence of perceived stress in methadone withdrawal outcome and the psychological factors involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 81 methadone maintenance treatment outpatients was evaluated and then observed during methadone dose reduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a multivariate analysis first showed that successful detoxification was predicted by perceived stress, patient-clinic staff agreement, pharmacotherapy support and social care; and second, perceived stress was predicted by anxiety, depression, self-control, social care and benzodiazepine use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that high levels of stress could increase the risk of failure in methadone detoxification, so a clinical intervention on the psychological factors related to stress would be indicated to improve effectiveness of methadone withdrawal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Integral de Drogodependientes (Madrid).
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carreras Alabau
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrobles Isabel
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almendros Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone