Assessing Loneliness among Adults Receiving Outpatient Treatment with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

Authors

Rosalina Mills, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Keith J. Zullig, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Laurie A. Theeke, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
Laura R. Lander, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Gerry R. Hobbs, Department of Statistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Johnathan Herczyk, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Stephen M. Davis, Department of Health Policy, Management, & Leadership, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-18-2022

Journal

International journal of environmental research and public health

Volume

19

Issue

20

DOI

10.3390/ijerph192013481

Keywords

R-UCLA; intervention; loneliness; medication for opioid use disorder outpatient therapy; treatment

Abstract

Loneliness is a significant risk factor for substance use, however, impacts of treatments on loneliness are relatively unexplored. Living in a rural location is a greater risk factor for loneliness. This study examined data from a quasi-experimental study in rural Appalachia, comparing the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) versus Treatment as Usual (TAU) among adults receiving MOUD in outpatient therapy. Our objective was to determine whether observed reductions in self-reported craving, anxiety, depression, and increased perceived mindfulness would also improve loneliness reports. Eighty participants (n = 35 MBRP; n = 45 TAU) were included in the analysis from a group-based Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment program. Outcomes tracked included craving, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and loneliness as measured by the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA). A linear mixed model ANOVA determined the significance of the treatments on changes in loneliness scores at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks post-recruitment. Both groups reported significantly reduced loneliness over the course of the study (F = 16.07, < 0.01), however there were no significant differences between groups. Loneliness was also significantly positively ( < 0.01) correlated with anxiety (0.66), depression (0.59), and craving (0.38), and significantly ( < 0.01) inversely correlated (-0.52) with mindfulness. Results suggest that participation in MOUD group-based outpatient therapy has the potential to diminish loneliness and associated poor psychological outcomes. Thus, it is possible that a more targeted intervention for loneliness would further diminish loneliness, which is important as loneliness is linked to risk for relapse.

APA Citation

Mills, Rosalina; Zullig, Keith J.; Theeke, Laurie A.; Lander, Laura R.; Hobbs, Gerry R.; Herczyk, Johnathan; and Davis, Stephen M., "Assessing Loneliness among Adults Receiving Outpatient Treatment with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1759.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1759

Department

Nursing Faculty Publications