Monthly Buprenorphine May Improve OUD Patients ’ Sense of Well-Being, Satisfaction With Treatment

Astudy in theJournal of Substance Abuse Treatment has shown that treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) with monthly injections of extended-release buprenorphine may result in measurable improvements in patients ’ quality of life and sense of well-being. This represents a departure from standard research on OUD treatment, which largely focuses on how long patients remain in treatment and whether they abstain from illicit opioid use, according to the researchers.“Outcomes that are easily measurable during office visits can help clinicians assess life changes reflective of a person’s recovery—a lifestyle characterized not only by abstinence but also health and return to normality,” wrote Walter Ling, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles , and colleagues.In the 12-month study, 206 patients between 18 and 65 years old with moderate to severe OUD received monthly injections of extended-release buprenorphine. Researchers used standard assessment tools and questionnaires at various intervals throughout the study to measure how the patients felt about their own well-being. These tools included the following:The EQ-5D-5L to measure the patients ’ sense of health such as mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression.The SF-36v2 to measure the patients ’ sense of health-related quality of life and physical and mental health.The Treatment Effectiveness Assessment to assess the patients ’ perception of treatm...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: buprenorphine extended-release Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment patient satisfaction quality of life Walter Ling Well-Being Source Type: research