Effect of Abstinence on Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Chronic Methamphetamine Users in a Therapeutic Community

During withdrawal, patients experience different symptoms. These symptoms are associated with relapse. Understanding different outcomes of methamphetamine abstinence is useful for finding better treatments for dependence.

This study aimed to show the effects of abstinence on depression, anxiety, and quality of life in methamphetamine users.

A prospective quasi-experimental (before and after study) method was used to show the effect of 3 weeks abstinence on depression, anxiety, and quality of life. A convenient sample of addicted people entered into the study and 34 people completed the study. Beck Depression Scale, Cattell Anxiety Inventory and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) (for assessing quality of life), were used for outcome assessments.

The mean depression score after abstinence decreased significantly (P < 0.001). Both hidden and obvious anxiety and total anxiety had a high level at admission and after 3 weeks of abstinence, the mean level of anxiety did not change significantly (P < 0.096). However, the quality of life increased after 3 weeks of abstinence (P < 0.001).

Depression and anxiety are prevalent in methamphetamine users. Short-term abstinence improves depression and quality of life but does not improve anxiety in methamphetamine abusers. During follow up of these patients, addressing depression and anxiety is important to achieve better results.

Table 3.

Quality of Life and Its Scales Before and 3 Weeks After Methamphetamine Abstinence a,b

Outcome	Before Admission	After 3 Weeks	Mean Difference	P Value
Physical functioning	23.24 ± 5.39	25.94 ± 3.91	2.71	0.014
Role limitations (physical problems)	5.65 ± 1.47	6.00 ± 1.41	0.35	0.195
Bodily pain	4.62 ± 2.13	4.53 ± 2.31	-0.09	0.815
General health	11.12 ± 2.23	10.50 ± 2.16	-0.62	0.182
Vitality	12.97 ± 3.52	13.44 ± 2.46	0.47	0.386
Social functioning	5.29 ± 1.31	5.91 ± 1.06	0.62	0.051
Role limitations(emotional problems)	4.24 ± 1.13	4.76 ± 1.32	0.52	0.032
Mental health	17.26 ± 3.41	18.50 ± 3.16	1.24	0.029
Total score	84.38 ± 10.79	89.59 ± 8.55	5.21	0.001

a Data are presented as Mean ± SD.

b P value < 0.05 considered as significant.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/uGeW8k

By: Maryam Bagheri,1 Azarakhsh Mokri,2 Aliakbar Khosravi,1 and Kourosh Kabir3,*

¹Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Iran

²Clinical Department, Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran

³Community Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, IR Iran

^*Corresponding author: Kourosh Kabir, Community Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, IR Iran. Tel: +98-2122037513, E-mail: moc.oohay@hsoruok.ribak

   

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight