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. 2018 Apr 4:9:113.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00113. eCollection 2018.

Educational and Behavioral Counseling in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pulin Liu  1   2 , Ranran Song  1 , Yao Zhang  3 , Cheng Liu  1 , Bingxi Cai  1 , Xuebing Liu  3 , Jiaoyuan Li  1 , Xueqin Chen  1 , Juntao Ke  1 , Jiao Lou  1 , Wei Chen  1 , Beibei Zhu  1 , Li Zou  1 , Yang Yang  1 , Ying Zhu  1 , Yajie Gong  1 , Rong Zhong  1 , Xiaoping Miao  1
Affiliations

Educational and Behavioral Counseling in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pulin Liu et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Introduction: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs have been rapidly scaled up nationwide in China in recent years, and psychosocial intervention measures, including counseling, were recommended for improving the outcomes of MMT. However, the effectiveness of counseling in MMT programs remains controversial. This study investigated the efficacy of educational and behavioral counseling (EBC) mode in an MMT program in China.

Methods: A total of 125 eligible participants were randomized to EBC or a control group. Patients in the EBC group received weekly, manual-guided, group educational counseling for 8 weeks and individual behavioral counseling for the next 8 weeks. Patients in the control group received standard methadone maintenance treatment as usual (TAU).

Results: During the 16-week trial, the EBC group showed better treatment attendance (P = 0.022) and a greater increase in knowledge regarding heroin addiction (P = 0.001) and MMT (P = 0.005) than did the TAU group. Between the two groups, there were no significant differences regarding drug abstinence and reduction of risky behaviors.

Conclusion: EBC affiliated with MMT improved patients' cognition and adherence to treatment, facilitating their successful recovery.

Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR-IOR-15006673: http://www.chictr.org.cn.

Keywords: China; counseling; methadone maintenance treatment; psychosocial intervention; randomized controlled trial.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Enrollment and randomization.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Treatment attendance of educational and behavioral counseling (EBC) and treatment as usual (TAU) group. The patients in the EBC group showed better treatment attendance than those in TAU group. There was not significantly group different during weeks 9–12 (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Knowledge scores of educational and behavioral counseling (EBC) and treatment as usual (TAU) group. (A–C) presented significant differences between the EBC and TAU group on the total knowledge scores and knowledge subgroup scores related to heroin addiction and methadone maintenance treatment, and (D) showed that there is no significant difference between the EBC and TAU group on the knowledge subgroup scores related to HIV/AIDS (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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