Naslov
The role of buprenorphine maintenance therapy in opioide recidive prevention: Experiences from Croatia

Autori
Radić, Krešimir ; Bošnjak, Dina ; Korpar, Andreja ; Puljić, Antonia ; Bagarić, Ante

Izvornik
European Psychiatry (0924-9338) 33 (2016); S377-S377

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, kratko priopcenje, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
buprenorphine ; maintenance therapy ; opiode addicition ; opioide relapse prevention

Sažetak
Introduction Buprenorphine, a partial agonist of mu opioid receptors and an antagonist at kappa opioid receptors, is widely used in the treatment of the opioid addiction, as it reduces cravings and effects of opioid withdrawal, decreases opioid consumption and diminishes rewarding effects of it. In University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, the oldest psychiatric hospital in Croatia, buprenorphine maintenance therapy is a standard and important part of integrative psychiatric treatment offered to opioid drug users. Aims To show potential benefits of buprenorphine maintenance therapy as a pharmacological agent in psychiatric care for opioid drug users. Objectives To describe series of clinical cases in which the introduction of buprenorphine in therapy of opioid drug users lead to reduced number of their hospitalizations. Methods Clinical cases from University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče Addictions Treatment Department were identified and the course of patients’ treatment was analyzed. Summaries of cases, with the emphasis on protective factors for stabile maintenance, are presented. Results After switching patients from various opiates to buprenorphine in a controlled in-patient environment, our patients became more functional and their integrative psychiatric treatment could then start. After discharge, an improvement was visible in different dimensions of their lives, and the re-admittance was the exception, since recidives were rare. They continued their treatment actively, in outpatient programmes of our clinic. Conclusions Drug-seeking behaviour of presented opioid users was avoided by buprenorphine maintenance therapy provided with intermittent psychotherapeutic interventions or usual psychiatric support in aftercare. In our experience, such integrative psychiatric care prevents re-admittances and recidives.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA