Changes in quality of life during 52 weeks of extended-release naltrexone treatment, subsequent by a 1-year post-treatment period.

Abstract

This study investigates changes in quality of life (QoL) among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) undergoing extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) treatment for 52 weeks, subsequent by a 1-year post-treatment period. Conducted as a naturalistic, multicenter, open-label clinical trial across five urban hospitals in southern Norway, this observational study enrolled 158 participants with severe OUD. Participants received XR-NTX treatment for up to 52 weeks, with QoL assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument at five time points during treatment and twice during the post-treatment period. The Addiction Severity Index, European version (EuropASI) was used to measure covariates. A linear mixed model was employed to analyze trends in QoL, adjusting for mental distress severity and substance use severity. Significant improvements in QoL were observed in the physical, psychological, social and environmental domains during the XR-NTX treatment, with less pronounced changes in the environmental domain. Mental distress and substance use severity were negatively associated with QoL scores. The most substantial QoL improvements occurred within the first year of treatment, with overall perceived QoL remaining stable during the 1-year post-treatment period. This study highlights XR-NTX as a beneficial treatment option for enhancing QoL in individuals with OUD. The findings support the integration of XR-NTX into OUD treatment plans and emphasize the need for further research to explore long-term outcomes and the impact of external factors on QoL.