Abstinence Duration and Psychopathology Among Addiction Outpatients During 18 Months of COVID-19

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Feb 23

PMID 38389986

Authors

Constanza Daigre

Raul Felipe Palma-Alvarez

Marta Sorribes-Puertas

German Ortega-Hernandez

Marta Perea-Ortueta

Elena Ros-Cucurull

Lidia Segura

Joan Colom

Maria Dolores Braquehais

Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga

Lara Grau-Lopez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of patients with substance use disorder (SUD). However, few longitudinal studies have been done which examine associations between the pandemic, SUD patients' mental health and their drug use.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine duration of abstinence according to psychiatric status among SUD outpatients followed-up for 18 months from the pandemic related lockdown.

Methods: A follow-up study of 316 SUD outpatients was undertaken. Sociodemographic features, and clinical and consumption related variables were recorded. Pre, during and post lockdown information was evaluated. Abstinence/substance use was monitored at the patient's scheduled follow-up appointments, and psychiatric disorders and psychological variables were revaluated at 18 months.

Results: Survival analyses were used to compare the duration of abstinence (in months) from the beginning of the lockdown. It was observed that 70% of patients consumed the main substance for which they were being treated at some point during the follow-up. Men, younger patients, those with more symptoms of anxiety and personality disorders, and patients who experienced increased craving during follow-up, showed shorter duration of abstinence. While patients who had previously maintained at least one year of abstinence, achieved better results.

Conclusions: During the first year and a half of the pandemic, SUD outpatients presented alterations in mental health, such us anxiety, depression and maladaptive personality traits and a high rate of relapse. For this reason, despite the health and social crisis and their restrictive measures, a comprehensive treatment should be ensured.

References

Mansueto G, Lopes F, Grassi L, Cosci F . Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on Italian healthcare workers versus general population: Results from an online survey. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2021; 28(6):1334-1345. PMC: 8426916. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2644. View

Khatri U, Aronowitz S . Considering the harms of our habits: The reflexive urine drug screen in opioid use disorder treatment. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2020; 123:108258. PMC: 9759699. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108258. View

Marquez-Arrico J, Rio-Martinez L, Navarro J, Prat G, Forero D, Adan A . Coping Strategies in Male Patients under Treatment for Substance Use Disorders and/or Severe Mental Illness: Influence in Clinical Course at One-Year Follow-Up. J Clin Med. 2019; 8(11). PMC: 6912473. DOI: 10.3390/jcm8111972. View

Roncero C, Palma-Alvarez R, Diaz-Moran S, Grau-Lopez L, Rodriguez-Cintas L, Ros-Cucurull E . Cocaine relapse and health-related quality of life: a 23 weeks study. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2019; 47(2):37-44. View

Rubio G, Esteban Rodriguez L, Sion A, Ramis Vidal L, Blanco M, Zamora-Bayon A . How, when, and to what degree do people with alcohol dependence recover their psychological wellbeing and quality of life? The Madrid Recovery Project. Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1130078. PMC: 10313403. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1130078. View

Martinez-Cao C, de la Fuente-Tomas L, Menendez-Miranda I, Velasco A, Zurron-Madera P, Garcia-Alvarez L . Factors associated with alcohol and tobacco consumption as a coping strategy to deal with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and lockdown in Spain. Addict Behav. 2021; 121:107003. PMC: 8172276. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107003. View

Araos P, Vergara-Moragues E, Gonzalez-Saiz F, Pedraz M, Garcia-Marchena N, Romero-Sanchiz P . Differences in the Rates of Drug Polyconsumption and Psychiatric Comorbidity among Patients with Cocaine Use Disorders According to the Mental Health Service. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2017; 49(4):306-315. DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2017.1342151. View

Palma-Alvarez R, Ros-Cucurull E, Daigre C, Perea-Ortueta M, Martinez-Luna N, Serrano-Perez P . Is alexithymia related to retention and relapses in patients with substance use disorders?: A one year follow-up study. Addict Behav. 2020; 113:106681. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106681. View

Rosic T, Naji L, Sanger N, Marsh D, Worster A, Thabane L . Factors Associated With Increased Opioid Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Study of Patients Enrolled in Opioid Agonist Treatment. J Addict Med. 2021; 16(4):e257-e264. PMC: 9365071. DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000939. View

10.

Sanchez-Niubo A, Sordo L, Barrio G, Indave B, Domingo-Salvany A . Onset and progression of drug use in the general population of Catalonia, Spain. Adicciones. 2019; 32(1):32-40. DOI: 10.20882/adicciones.1089. View

11.

Wiersinga W, Rhodes A, Cheng A, Peacock S, Prescott H . Pathophysiology, Transmission, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review. JAMA. 2020; 324(8):782-793. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.12839. View

12.

Hughes M, Waite L, Hawkley L, Cacioppo J . A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies. Res Aging. 2008; 26(6):655-672. PMC: 2394670. DOI: 10.1177/0164027504268574. View

13.

Kim A, Sherry S, Nealis L, Mushquash A, Lee-Baggley D, Stewart S . Do symptoms of depression and anxiety contribute to heavy episodic drinking? A 3-wave longitudinal study of adult community members. Addict Behav. 2022; 130:107295. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107295. View

14.

Maletic V, Robinson M, Oakes T, Iyengar S, Ball S, Russell J . Neurobiology of depression: an integrated view of key findings. Int J Clin Pract. 2007; 61(12):2030-40. PMC: 2228409. DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2007.01602.x. View

15.

Daigre C, Grau-Lopez L, Palma-Alvarez R, Perea-Ortueta M, Sorribes-Puertas M, Serrano-Perez P . A Multicenter Study on the Impact of Gender, Age, and Dual Diagnosis on Substance Consumption and Mental Health Status in Outpatients Treated for Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 Lockdown. J Dual Diagn. 2022; 18(2):71-80. DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2022.2051110. View

16.

Westermeyer J . The role of cultural and social factors in the cause of addictive disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1999; 22(2):253-73. DOI: 10.1016/s0193-953x(05)70075-7. View

17.

Bartels C, Hessmann P, Schmidt U, Vogelgsang J, Ruhleder M, Kratzenberg A . Medium-term and peri-lockdown course of psychosocial burden during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study on patients with pre-existing mental disorders. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2021; 272(5):757-771. PMC: 8614217. DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01351-y. View

18.

Grau-Lopez L, Daigre C, Palma-Alvarez R, Sorribes-Puertas M, Serrano-Perez P, Quesada-Franco M . COVID-19 Lockdown and Consumption Patterns among Substance Use Disorder Outpatients: A Multicentre Study. Eur Addict Res. 2022; 28(4):243-254. PMC: 8805052. DOI: 10.1159/000521425. View

19.

Barral C, Daigre C, Bachiller D, Calvo N, Ros-Cucurull E, Gancedo B . Severity factors associated with borderline personality disorder among misusers in an outpatient sample in Spain. J Addict Dis. 2016; 36(2):93-96. DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2016.1274594. View

20.

Comeau N, Stewart S, Loba P . The relations of trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and sensation seeking to adolescents' motivations for alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use. Addict Behav. 2002; 26(6):803-25. DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4603(01)00238-6. View