METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT AND CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Keywords:
methadone maintenance treatment, mental health, coronavirus pandemicAbstract
Methadone and buprenorphine are the major modalities on the opioid substitution therapy (OST) for opioid dependence in North Macedonia. Some studies reported that coronavirus pandemic in methadone maintenance patients (MMT) increase levels of stress, anxiety, depression and craving of substance use. The negative emotions aroused by the COVID 19 outbreak and the accompanying social isolation to patients on MMT maybe are an important factor of this occurrence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of coronavirus pandemic on mental health and use of legal and illegal substances in methadone maintenance patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective study included two group of male patients on methadone therapy (N=30) between 20-51 years evaluated in Day hospital of heroin addicts-department of Psychiatric Hospital Skopje. The study was conducted for 6 months so the one groups of patients was evaluated before coronavirus pandemic and the second groups after six month of beginning the epidemic. The patients were assess using sociodemographic information by semi-structured questionnaire specially designed for the study. Urinary tests for determination of psychoactive substances, BDI scale to determinate depression and Zunk scale to determinate the anxiety Results of this study were determinate by descriptive methods and Students t-test. In our study we got not statistically significates results between sociodemographic characteristic in examination group. But we got statistically significates results between score of BDI and Zung scale in examination groups Also in our study we got that alcohol , tobacco use and recidivism of heroin use were statistical significantly higher in MMT patients after six months of coronavirus pandemic. Conclusion: Results in our studies, suggested that the psychological and behavioral changes of the patients receiving MMT during the epidemical were significant so maybe psychosocial treatment in the future, which will alleviate this conditions
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