The Effect of Internalized Stigma Management Program on Depressive Symptoms among Patient with Opioid use Disorder

Abstract

Purpose: 1) To compare depressive symptoms of patients with opioid use disorder who received internalized stigma management program measured at pre-intervention, the end of the intervention, and at one-month post-intervention. 2) To compare depressive symptoms of patients with opioid use disorder who received internalized stigma management programs and those who received regular nursing care.

Design: Quasi-experimental research

Methods: Thirty-eight opioid use disorder patients who have depressive symptoms and received services at the Methadone Clinic in Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment were enrolled. Questionnaires were composed of Internalized stigma management program, Demographic data, The 9 Questions Depression Rating Scale revised for Thai Central Dialect, and The brief opioid stigma scale. The questionnaires were tested for content validities and the reliabilities were .77 and .79, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, repeated measure ANOVA and Least Significant Difference.

Findings: 1) The depressive symptoms in the experimental group compared between pre-post and one-month post-intervention are not significant. 2) The depressive symptoms among patients with opioid use disorder in the experimental group at post-intervention and one-month post-intervention were significantly better than the control group.

Conclusion: This program can be used for reduced depressive symptoms among patients with opioid use disorder in a short time.