The effects of crocin on psychological parameters in patients under methadone maintenance treatment: a randomized clinical trial

Anahita Khalatbari-Mohseni,Naghmeh Mirhosseini,Abdollah Omidi,Zatollah Asemi,Amir Ghaderi,Hamid Reza Banafshe

doi:10.1186/s13011-019-0198-1

Abstract

BackgroundMethadone maintenance treatment (MMT) might be associated with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances and sexual dysfunctions. This study was designed to determine the effects of crocin on psychological parameters in patients under MMT.MethodsPatients under MMT were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either 30 mg/day crocin (2 plus crocin tablet, 15 mg BID) (n = 25) or placebo (2 tablets per day, 15 mg BID) (n = 25), one hour after taking food, for 8 weeks. Psychological parameters were evaluated at baseline and end of the trial to determine related associations between crocin and patients’ mental health status.ResultsAfter 8-week intervention, crocin significantly decreased Beck Depression Inventory (b − 6.66; 95% CI, − 9.88, − 3.45; P < 0.0001), Beck Anxiety Inventory (b − 4.35; 95% CI, − 5.94, − 2.75; P < 0.0001), general health questionnaire (b − 4.45; 95% CI, − 7.68, − 1.22; P = 0.008) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (b − 2.73; 95% CI, − 3.74, − 1.73; P < 0.0001) in patients under MMT, compared with the placebo. Crocin also significantly improved International Index of Erectile Functions (b 4.98; 95% CI, 2.08, 7.88; P = 0.001) rather than placebo.ConclusionOur findings indicated that taking crocin for 8 weeks by patients under MMT had beneficial effects on their mental health status. Crocin can be recommended as an adjunct to methadone in opioid withdrawal protocols because of the ability to improve the quality of life and decrease opioids side effects in these patients.This trial was registered in the Iranian website for clinical trials registry as http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017110537243N1.Clinical trial registration numberwww.irct.ir: http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017110537243N1.

Highlights

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) might be associated with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances and sexual dysfunctions
Grade 1 side effects were reported in 6 patients using crocin [headache (n = 2), insomnia (n = 1), nausea (n = 2) and dyspnea (n = 1)] and 2 patients in the placebo group [headache (n = 1) and nausea (n = 1)], which did not lead to excluding any patients from the study
Crocin significantly decreased Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (b − 6.66; 95% CI, − 9.88, − 3.45; P < 0.0001), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (b − 4.35; 95% CI, − 5.94, − 2.75; P < 0.0001), General health questionnaire (GHQ) (b − 4.45; 95% CI, − 7.68, − 1.22; P = 0.008) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (b − 2.73; 95% CI, − 3.74, − 1.73; P < 0.0001) in patients undergoing MMT, compared with the placebo

Summary

Introduction

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) might be associated with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances and sexual dysfunctions. This study was designed to determine the effects of crocin on psychological parameters in patients under MMT. The beneficial effects of crocin on psychological parameters have been shown in patients not taking MMT. Current evidence demonstrating that saffron administration, at a dosage of 28 mg/day for 4 weeks, had beneficial effects on mood, anxiety, and stress management in individuals selfreporting low mood, yet sleep quality did not improve [15]. Recent studies have shown that daily oral consumption of saffron capsules improves sleep quality in diabetic patients [16], and sexual dysfunction among women [13]

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