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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Improvement of quality of life in methadone treatment patients in northern Taiwan: a follow-up study

Authors: Ying-Chun Chou, Shu-Fang Shih, Wei-Der Tsai, Chiang-shan R Li, Ke Xu, Tony Szu-Hsien Lee

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2013

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Improvement of quality of life in methadone treatment patients in northern Taiwan: a follow-up study
Authors
Ying-Chun Chou
Shu-Fang Shih
Wei-Der Tsai
Chiang-shan R Li
Ke Xu
Tony Szu-Hsien Lee
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-190

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