ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Substance abuse is associated with high prevalence of psychiatric disorders including mood disorders [especially depression], personality disorders and psychosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of methadone and its result on substance induced depression-symptoms among IV drug abusers of Kashan prison in 1384
Method and Materials: This is a semi-experimental study. A two part questionnaire including demographic data and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] were administered to participants by the prison clinical psychologist. After insuring privacy, performing the questionnaire, and interviewing with each participant done by three psychologists, oral methadone was prescribed to non-excluded participants. After three months of taking methadone, they were re-evaluated by BDI and re- interviewed by psychologists for making diagnoses based on DSM-IV. Data were analyzed by paired T-test
Findings: Based on clinical interview, from the 35 participants, 26[74.2%] were diagnosed as having Major Depressive Disorder, 2 of whom were excluded from the study and referred for further follow up because of suicidal thinking .The rest 9 participants [25.7%] were not depressed. After the intervention, of all 24, 19 ones[79.16%] showed relative improvement and 5[20.83%] remained unchanged. A significant reduction was found in the mean BDI score after the intervention[p < 0.001]. Diagnostic value[positive predictive value] for BDI was found to be 47.28% in this study
Conclusion: This study showed that methadone can reduce depression severity in IV drug abusers