THE ROLE OF LIFE STRESS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN NALTREXONE VERSUS METHADONE TREATMENT FOR OPIATE ADDICTION
Abstract
The relationship of behavioral measures of treatment outcome to life stress and social support was investigated for two opiate addiction treatment modalities: methadone maintenance and abstinence treatment, the latter using the opiate-receptor blockade naltrexone. Subjects were 30 consecutive methadone admissions and 30 consecutive naltrexone admissions to an out-patient treatment and research facility for opiate addiction. The pretreatment instruments used were the following: Hassles Scale (frequency and severity), Perceived Social Support: Friends, and Perceived Social Support: Family. Outcome measures were three types of urine screens for drug abuse, number of required clinic appointments kept, and number of days retained in treatment. It was predicted that naltrexone patients would report lower levels of life stress and higher levels of social support from family and friends than would methodone patients. This prediction was not confirmed. Both groups had equivalent ratings on the stress measures and the social support measures. It was hypothesized that for the naltrexone group, life stress and social support would be more strongly related to each of the five outcome measures (three urine screens for drug abuse, appointments kept and days in treatment) than for the methadone group. These predictions were only partially confirmed. First, while for each treatment group separately, stress showed some significant relationships with outcome measures of drug abuse, contrary to prediction, there were no significant differences between the groups in the magnitude of correlations. Second, only the naltrexone group showed a significant and negative relationship between stress and days in treatment, and between stress and appointments kept, so that, as predicted, there were significant differences between the two groups in the size of correlations. Third, while for each group separately, there was a relationship between family support and total drug abuse, contrary to prediction, there were no differences between the two groups' correlations. Further, family support was unrelated to days in treatment and appointments kept for both groups. Finally, friend support was unrelated to any of the outcome measures for either treatment group.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
GREY, CAROLYN C, "THE ROLE OF LIFE STRESS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN NALTREXONE VERSUS METHADONE TREATMENT FOR OPIATE ADDICTION" (1984). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8506330.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8506330
