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Self-Injuring Behavior and Mental Illness in Opioid-Dependent Patients Treated with Implant Naltrexone, Methadone, and Buprenorphine in Western Australia

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Abstract

This study aims to compare rates of intentional self-harm (ISH) and other mental illness events in opioid-dependent patients treated implant naltrexone, with those treated with methadone or buprenorphine. Patients treated between 2001 and 2010 were linked with hospital, emergency (ED), outpatient mental health, and mortality records. Rates of health events were compared between the three groups using survival analysis and generalized estimating equations. Rates of suicide and ISH in patients treated with naltrexone were comparable to patients treated with methadone or buprenorphine. Rates of mental health and psychiatric hospital admissions, ED attendances, and outpatient mental health events were significantly lower in patients treated with methadone compared with naltrexone. Buprenorphine patients had higher rates of psychiatric admission, but lower rates of ED and outpatient mental health events compared with naltrexone patients. Naltrexone was associated with high rates of mental health events, however further controlled research is required.

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Acknowledgements

The study authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of the WA Data Linkage Branch and the Data Custodians.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the State Health Research Advisory Council via a Research Translation Project Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australian, Australia

    Erin Kelty & Gary Hulse

  2. School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australian, 6009, Australia

    Erin Kelty

  3. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia

    Gary Hulse

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  1. Erin Kelty
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Correspondence to Erin Kelty.

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Erin Kelty and Gary Hulse have no interests to declare.

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Kelty, E., Hulse, G. Self-Injuring Behavior and Mental Illness in Opioid-Dependent Patients Treated with Implant Naltrexone, Methadone, and Buprenorphine in Western Australia. Int J Ment Health Addiction 16, 187–198 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9856-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9856-6

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