Demoralization in Opioid Dependent Patients: A Comparative Study with Cancer Patients and Community Subjects

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.