Journal article
Acute effects of heroin on emotions in heroin-dependent patients.
- Blum J Psychiatric Hospital, Division of Substance Use Disorders, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Gerber H
- Gerhard U
- Schmid O
- Petitjean S
- Riecher-Rössler A
- Wiesbeck GA
- Borgwardt SJ
- Walter M
- 2013-10-18
Published in:
- The American journal on addictions. - 2013
Adult
Affect
Anxiety
Cross-Over Studies
Depression
Emotions
Female
Heroin
Heroin Dependence
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Narcotics
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
Young Adult
English
BACKGROUND
Euphoria has been described in heroin-dependent individuals after heroin administration. However, affective disturbances and disorders are common in heroin dependence. The present study examined the acute effects of heroin on emotions in heroin-dependent patients.
METHODS
This randomized controlled crossover trial included 28 heroin-dependent patients (67.9% male, n = 19) in stable heroin-assisted treatment and 20 healthy controls. The patients were administered heroin or saline (placebo), the controls were administered saline. Data measuring mood, affects and heroin craving (BDI, AMRS, STAI, STAXI, and HCQ) were assessed before and 60 minutes after substance injection.
RESULTS
Before substance injection, heroin-dependent patients showed significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than healthy controls (p < .0001). Heroin administration-but not placebo administration-was associated with a significant decrease in all negative emotions, including craving, and a significant increase in emotional well-being (p < .0001), irrespective of perceived intoxication and sedation. After the experiment, the patients did not differ from healthy controls in their emotions, once they had received heroin.
CONCLUSIONS
Heroin dampens craving, negative emotions, and increases positive emotions. These findings indicate that heroin regulates emotions and underscore the clinical benefit of opioid substitution treatment for heroin-dependent patients.
Euphoria has been described in heroin-dependent individuals after heroin administration. However, affective disturbances and disorders are common in heroin dependence. The present study examined the acute effects of heroin on emotions in heroin-dependent patients.
METHODS
This randomized controlled crossover trial included 28 heroin-dependent patients (67.9% male, n = 19) in stable heroin-assisted treatment and 20 healthy controls. The patients were administered heroin or saline (placebo), the controls were administered saline. Data measuring mood, affects and heroin craving (BDI, AMRS, STAI, STAXI, and HCQ) were assessed before and 60 minutes after substance injection.
RESULTS
Before substance injection, heroin-dependent patients showed significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than healthy controls (p < .0001). Heroin administration-but not placebo administration-was associated with a significant decrease in all negative emotions, including craving, and a significant increase in emotional well-being (p < .0001), irrespective of perceived intoxication and sedation. After the experiment, the patients did not differ from healthy controls in their emotions, once they had received heroin.
CONCLUSIONS
Heroin dampens craving, negative emotions, and increases positive emotions. These findings indicate that heroin regulates emotions and underscore the clinical benefit of opioid substitution treatment for heroin-dependent patients.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.12025.x
- PMID 24131168
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/174245
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