%0 Journal Article
%T Demoralization in Opioid Dependent Patients: A Comparative Study with Cancer Patients and Community Subjects
%A Cor A.J. De Jong
%A David W. Kissane
%A Ronit J. Geessink and Dieke van der VeldenAimMethodResultsConclusion
%J The Open Addiction Journal
%D 2008
%I Bentham Open
%R 10.2174/1874941000801010007]
%X Aim: To study existential distress or demoralization expressed as meaninglessness and helplessness in opioid dependent patients. Method: Comparison of existential distress between opioid dependent patients (n=131), patients with advanced cancer (n=100) and a community based sample without severe psychiatric or somatic disorders (n=190) as measured with the Demoralization Scale. Results: Community controls without somatic or psychiatric disorders have significantly lower scores on all Demoralization Subscales. Opioid dependent patients are strikingly more demoralized than patients with cancer. Conclusion: Opioid dependent patients suffer from severe existential distress (meaninglessness, helplessness) which can explain the high prevalence of suicide in this group.
%U http://www.benthamscience.com/open/toaddj/articles/V001/7TOADDJ.htm