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The Influence of Psychological Factors on the Opiate Withdrawal Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Grania T. Phillips ,
Michael Gossop  and
Brendan Bradley
Grania T. Phillips
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX
Michael Gossop*
Affiliation:
Drug Dependence Clinical Research and Treatment Unit, The Bethlem Royal Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX
Brendan Bradley
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Psychological and drug-related variables and their effect on the severity of withdrawal symptoms were examined in a group of addicts being withdrawn from opiates on an in-patient drug dependence unit. Two psychological factors—neuroticism and the degree of distress expected by the patient—were related to subsequent severity of symptoms. Both are anxiety-related, and may serve to amplify withdrawal symptoms. Surprisingly, drug dose was unrelated to symptom severity.

Type
Brief Reports
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 149 , Issue 2 , August 1986 , pp. 235 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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