Patient evaluation of psychosocial treatment interventions in Swedish methadone maintenance programmes

Abstract

This is the first study on patient evaluation of the psychosocial treatment interventions in the four methadone maintenance programmes (MMPs) in Sweden, i.e. in Uppsala, Stockholm, Lund and Malmö. The study was performed in two phases. An inventory of psychosocial treatment elements was conducted through interviews with managers or responsible staff members. The Stockholm MMP offers many psychosocial activities and interventions within its own organisation, while the other programmes are highly dependent on co-operation with municipal social welfare services. The Uppsala and Lund MMPs run remote MMP-services in co-operation with local psychiatrists in other parts of the country. A questionnaire based on the inventory was completed by 190 patients, rating the importance of different elements and to what extent their respective needs had been met. In general, the psychosocial elements were regarded as important by patients in all programmes. Female patients rated daily activities and co-operation with municipal social services as more important than men did. Patients in early phases of treatment rated relapse prevention support, daily activities and involvement of relatives as more important than did patients in late phases. There were also differences between the four programmes in evaluations of how needs were met. In conclusion, psychosocial treatment elements were regarded as highly important by patients in MMPs, and there is a demand for more emphasis on such elements.