Long-term outcomes of treatment-resistant heroin addicts with and without DSM-IV axis I psychiatric comorbidity (dual diagnosis)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of treatment-resistant heroin addicts with and without DSM-IV axis I psychiatric comorbidity (dual diagnosis).

Method: 129 heroin addicts who also met criteria for treatment resistance, 66 with one or more DSM-IV axis I psychiatric diagnosis (DD patients), and 63 without DSM-IV axis I psychiatric comorbidity (NDD patients) were monitored prospectively (6 years on average, min. 1, max. 9) along a methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP).

Results: The rates for survival-in-treatment were about 50% for NDD patients and about 70% for DD patients. After 4 years of treatment onwards, such rates tended to become stable. DD patients showed better outcome measures than NDD patients. A significantly higher methadone dose was needed to have DD patients stabilized.

Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, treatment-resistant patients with psychiatric comorbidity showed a better long-term outcome than treatment-resistant patients without psychiatric comorbidity.