Comparative Study of the Perceived Quality of Life of Patients in Treatment for Cocaine and Heroin Dependence in Spain: Differences by Gender and Time in Treatment

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study in which we compared the perceived quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving outpatient treatment for cocaine (n = 727) and heroin dependence (n = 469), by analyzing differences by gender and time in treatment. Participants were recruited from addictive behavior centers in Spain in 2004. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-Bref) was used as a measure. Analysis of covariance and multivariate linear regression were used. This study shows the relevance of considering the role of gender in QoL studies, and the need to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment in the improvement of QoL. Limitations of the study were noted.

Keywords :

• gender
• quality of life
• therapy
• treatment outcome
• cocaine-related disorders
• opioid-related disorders

THE AUTHORS

Claudia Cristina Morales-Manrique, PhD in Psychology (Universidad Rafael Urdaneta, Venezuela); Diploma in Design and Statistics in Health Sciences (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain); Diploma in Clinical Psychology (Universidad Barcelona, Spain) Ph.D in Psychology in the area of Personality, Social and Clinical Intervention (Universitat de València, Spain), is member of the research team Unidad de Información e Investigación Social y Sanitaria (UISYS), at the Universitat de València in Spain; and of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse (NHSN), in the United States. She has a special interest in coordinating and developing studies on Subjective Quality of Life (SQoL) or Subjective Well-being, in different sectors of the population (adults, youth, immigrants, and ethnic minority groups), to determine the subjective/cognitive, interpersonal, and social factors that determine and improve the SQoL. She is interested in comparative studies with populations in different cultural contexts, using quantitative and qualitative methodology.

Sofia María Tomas Dols, PhD, MD. Born in Spain, she coordinated the elaboration and publication of the I Plan of HIV in the region of Valencia, and the elaboration of the “Valencian strategic plan on drug dependence and other addictive disorders 2006–2010.” She is author of diverse manuals and publications on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV infection, drug dependence, and other addictive disorders. She has participated in different research projects of HIV sponsored by IVESP, FIS, FIPSE, and the European Union. She is a professor and teaches many masters programs and courses on AIDS, drug dependence, sexology, alcohol, and promotion of the health in Spain and Latin America (inside the Plan of International Cooperation).

Maria J. Zarza-González, PhD, is a doctor in Psychology, a researcher, and on the Faculty of Berkeley College of Music (Valencia Campus) and at the University of Valencia. She is a health psychologist implementing clinical programs on substance abuse, violence against women, and various mental health disorders. She is a research scientist who is a member of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse funded by NIDA. Dr. Zarza's postdoctoral experience was obtained at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she worked as a researcher and senior writer with the team that started the UNODC Treatment International project in 2005. Dr. Zarza continues to work as an international consultant and trainer of Trainers for the UNODC and for formational/local governments of Spain implementing evidence-based practices such as the MATRIX model.

Antonio Vidal-Infer, PhD, is a Professor of the History of Science and Information Science Department at the University of Valencia. He has a BA in Psychology and PhD in Medicine from the University of Valencia, an MSc in Clinical Psychology and graduate training in Statistics applied to Health Sciences (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and Anthropology (Northern Arizona University). His research is conducted on the evaluation of research and scientific literature and drug abuse research from basic, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives. He has been teaching at the School of Psychology of the University of Valencia for 4 years.

F. Javier Alvarez, PhD, MD, is a Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, and director of the Institute for Alcohol and Drug Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid. He is working on several aspects related to psychoactive substances, mainly in the areas of epidemiological studies related to the patterns of alcohol and drug use in several settings, developing policies, preventive programs, and treatment services.

Juan Carlos Valderrama Zurián, MD, PhD in Medicine from the University of Valencia, is a Professor in the Departamento Historia de la Ciencia y Documentación at the University of Valencia, in Spain. He has published more than 60 journal articles and chapters in the areas of drug abuse research. His research has been supported by grants from the Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas; Dirección General de Drogodependencias and Dirección General de Salud Pública of the Generalitat Valenciana; and from the Plan Municipal de Drogodependencias y otros Trastornos Adictivos of the Ayuntamiento de Valencia. Dr. Valderrama Zurián has been recognized for his contributions and has received the first Research Award from the Generalitat Valenciana/Bancaja for his research in risk behaviours, psychopathology and HIV. He is currently Vice-Head of Safety and Training at the CISE, IVASPE of the Conselleria de Gobernación y Justicia, Generalitat Valenciana.

Notice of correction:

A correction has been made to the grant ID information since this article's original online publication date of April 8, 2014.