Using ecological momentary assessment to examine the relationship between craving and affect with opioid use in a clinical trial of clonidine as an adjunct medication to buprenorphine treatment

A historical perspective on clonidine as an alpha-2A receptor agonist in the treatment of addictive behaviors: Focus on opioid dependence

Clonidine operates through agonism at the alpha-2A receptor, a specific subtype of the alpha-2-adrenergic receptor located predominantly in the prefrontal cortex. By inhibiting the release of norepinephrine, which is responsible for withdrawal symptoms, clonidine effectively addresses withdrawal-related conditions such as anxiety, hypertension, and tachycardia. The groundbreaking work by Gold et al. demonstrated clonidine's ability to counteract the effects of locus coeruleus stimulation, reshaping the understanding of opioid withdrawal within the field. In the 1980s, the efficacy of clonidine in facilitating the transition to long-acting injectable naltrexone was confirmed for individuals motivated to overcome opioid use disorders (OUDs), including physicians and executives. Despite challenges with compliance, naltrexone offers sustained blockade of opioid receptors, reducing the risk of overdose, intoxication, and relapse in motivated patients in recovery. The development of clonidine and naltrexone as treatment modalities for OUDs, and potentially other addictions, including behavioral ones, underscores the potential for translating neurobiological advancements from preclinical models (bench) to clinical practice (bedside), ushering in innovative approaches to addiction treatment.

Opioid craving does not incubate over time in inpatient or outpatient treatment studies: Is the preclinical incubation of craving model lost in translation?

Within addiction science, incubation of craving is an operational label used to describe time-dependent increases in drug seeking during periods of drug deprivation. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe the preclinical literature on incubation of craving and the clinical literature on craving measured over extended periods of abstinence to document this translational homology and factors impacting correspondence. Across the 44 preclinical studies that met inclusion criteria, 31 reported evidence of greater lever pressing, nose pokes, spout licks, or time spent in drug-paired compartments (i.e., drug seeking) relative to neutral compartments after longer periods of abstinence relative to shorter periods of abstinence, labelled as "incubation of craving." In contrast, no clinical studies (n = 20) identified an increase in opioid craving during longer abstinence periods. The lack of clinical evidence for increases in craving in clinical populations weakens the translational utility of operationalizing the time-dependent increase in drug-seeking behavior observed in preclinical models as models of incubation of "craving".

Impact of cannabidiol on reward- and stress-related neurocognitive processes among individuals with opioid use disorder: A pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over trial

Introduction

Opioid use disorder (OUD) continues to be a significant public health concern. Medications for OUD (MOUD) such as buprenorphine reduce overdose mortality, but relapses occur often, leading to adverse outcomes. Preliminary data suggest that cannabidiol (CBD) may be a potential adjunctive treatment to MOUD by attenuating cue-reactivity. This pilot study sought to evaluate the impact of a single dose of CBD on reward- and stress-related neurocognitive processes implicated in relapse among those with OUD.

Methods

The study was a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over trial aimed at assessing the effects of a single dose of CBD (Epidiolex®) 600 mg or matching placebo administered to participants with OUD receiving either buprenorphine or methadone. Vital signs, mood states, pain, opioid withdrawal, cue-induced craving, attentional bias, decision-making, delayed discount, distress tolerance, and stress-reactivity were examined at each testing session on two separate testing days at least 1 week apart.

Results

Ten participants completed all study procedures. Receipt of CBD was associated with a significant decrease in cue-induced craving (0.2 vs. 1.3, p = 0.040), as well as reduced attentional bias toward drug-related cues as measured by the visual probe task (-80.4 vs. 100.3, p = 0.041). No differences were found among all the other outcomes examined.

Discussion

CBD may have promise as an adjunct to MOUD treatment by attenuating the brain response to drug-related cues, which, in turn, may reduce the risk of relapse and overdoses. Further research is warranted to evaluate the potential for CBD as an adjunctive therapy for individuals in treatment for OUD.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04982029.

Using ecological momentary assessments of negative affect and craving during residential opioid use disorder treatment to predict patients' relapse to substance use

BACKGROUND

Negative affect (NA) and craving are often independently examined as precipitators of relapse among individuals with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder (OUD). Recent ecological momentary assessment (EMA) research has revealed that NA and craving frequently co-occur within individuals. Yet we know little about the general patterns of, and variability in, within-person associations between NA and craving, as well as whether the nature and degree of within-person NA-craving coupling predicts post-treatment time-to-relapse.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients (77 % male, Mage = 30.10, Range = 19-61) in residential treatment for OUD took part in a 12-day, 4× daily smartphone-based EMA study. Linear mixed-effects models tested within-person, day-level associations between self-reported NA and craving during treatment. The study used Person-specific slopes (i.e., average within-person NA-craving coupling for each participant) estimated from the mixed-effects model in survival analyses with Cox proportional hazards regression models to determine if between-person differences in the within-person coupling predicted post-treatment time-to-relapse (operationalized as the return to problematic use of any substance except tobacco), and whether this prediction was similar across patients' average levels of NA and craving intensity. The study monitored relapse through a combination of hair samples and reports from patients or alternative contacts via a voice response system twice a month for up to 120 days or more following discharge.

RESULTS

Among the 61 participants with time-to-relapse data, those with stronger positive within-person NA-craving coupling on average during residential OUD treatment had a lower hazard of relapsing (slower time to relapse) post-treatment than participants with weaker NA-craving slopes. The significant association held after controlling for interindividual differences in age, sex, and average levels of NA and craving intensity. Average NA and craving intensity did not moderate the association between NA-craving coupling and time-to-relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Interindividual differences in average within-person, day-level NA-craving coupling during residential treatment predict OUD patients' post-treatment time-to-relapse.

Therapeutics for Substance-Using Women: The Need to Elucidate Sex-Specific Targets for Better-Tailored Treatments

In the last decade, alcohol consumption in the US has risen by 84% in women compared with 35% in men. Furthermore, research has shown that sex- and gender-related differences may disadvantage women in terms of developing a range of psychological, cognitive, and medical problems considerably earlier in their drinking history than men, and despite consuming a similar quantity of substances. While this "telescoping" process has been acknowledged in the literature, a concomitant understanding of the underlying biobehavioral mechanisms, and an increase in the development of specific treatments tailored to women, has not occurred. In the current chapter we focus on understanding why the need for personalized, sex-specific medications is imperative, and highlight some of the potential sex-specific gonadal and stress-related adaptations underpinning the accelerated progress from controlled to compulsive drug and alcohol seeking in women. We additionally discuss the efficacy of these mechanisms as novel targets for medications development, using exogenous progesterone and guanfacine as examples. Finally, we assess some of the challenges faced and progress made in terms of developing innovative medications in women. We suggest that agents such as exogenous progesterone and adrenergic medications, such as guanfacine, may provide some efficacy in terms of attenuating stress-induced craving for several substances, as well as improving the ability to emotionally regulate in the face of stress, preferentially in women. However, to fully leverage the potential of these therapeutics in substance-using women, greater focus needs to the placed on reducing barriers to treatment and research by encouraging women into clinical trials.

Examining Associations Between Negative Affect and Substance Use in Treatment-Seeking Samples: A Review of Studies Using Intensive Longitudinal Methods

Purpose of Review

Understanding dynamic relationships between negative affect and substance use disorder (SUD) outcomes, including craving, may help inform adaptive and personalized interventions. Recent studies using intensive longitudinal methods were reviewed to examine relationships between negative affect and the outcomes of either craving or substance use during and following SUD treatment.

Recent Findings

Results on associations between negative affect and craving/substance use were mixed and difficult to synthesize, given methodological differences across studies. The strength and direction of these relationships varied across outcomes, subgroups, contexts, and time course.

Summary

The current literature is mixed concerning negative affect and craving/substance use associations during and following SUD treatment. Researchers should increasingly recruit diverse individuals, for example, samples of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds and those reporting co-occurring disorders and polysubstance use. Experimental, qualitative, and person-specific methods will improve our understanding of relationships between negative affect and substance-related outcomes during SUD treatment.

Learning from addiction: Craving of prescription opioids in chronic pain sufferers

Prescription opioids are a primary driver of opioid-related deaths. Although craving is a substantial component of OUD, the degree to which craving leads to misuse among chronic pain patients on long-term prescription opioids is unknown. A clear understanding of the factors that lead to misuse in this vulnerable population is needed for the development of safe and effective practices for opioid taper. This narrative review summarizes the relevant literature on the role of craving in addiction and chronic pain through epidemiological and behavioral studies. The first part of this review examines the role of craving in predicting opioid use/misuse in individuals with chronic pain with and without OUD. The second part covers methods on how craving is evaluated experimentally using both subjective and objective measures and provides related findings. The overall goal of this review is to facilitate the development of a population-specific description of craving in those who use opioids to control chronic pain and to describe how it may be mechanistically linked to patterns of opioid (mis)use.

Intra-individual variability and stability of affect and craving among individuals receiving medication treatment for opioid use disorder

Affect and craving are dynamic processes that are clinically relevant in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, and can be quantified in terms of intra-individual variability and stability. The purpose of the present analysis was to explore associations between opioid use and variability and stability of affect and craving among individuals receiving medication treatment for OUD (MOUD). Adults (N = 224) with OUD in outpatient methadone or buprenorphine treatment completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) prompts assessing positive affect, negative affect, opioid craving, and opioid use. Dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) was used to quantify person-level indices of magnitude and stability of change. Beta regression was used to examine associations between intra-individual variability and stability and proportion of opioid-use days, when controlling for overall intensity of affect and craving. Results suggested that greater magnitude of craving variability was associated with opioid use on a greater proportion of days, particularly among individuals with lower average craving. Low average positive affect was also associated with higher proportion of days of use. Individuals who experience substantial craving variability in the context of lower average craving may be particularly vulnerable to opioid use during treatment. Ongoing assessment of craving may be useful in identifying treatment needs. Examining correlates of intra-individual variability and stability in MOUD treatment remains a relevant direction for future work.

Patient-reported sleep outcomes in randomized-controlled trials in persons with substance use disorders: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances and disorders are a common and sometimes recalcitrant problem in persons recovering from substance use disorders (SUDs). As such, several randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to address sleep disturbances in a variety of SUD subpopulations and clinical scenarios. The goal of this systematic review was to collate patient-reported sleep outcomes used in past SUD-related RCTs to provide guidance for future sleep research in persons with SUDs.

METHODS

This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on May 7th, 2020 (CRD42020182004). Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed manuscripts describing RCTs in an SUD population.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 13,403 candidate articles, and 76 met a priori criteria and were included in this review. Thirty-five (46.1%) assessed sleep as a primary outcome (i.e., sleep improvement was the primary goal of the research) and 41 (53.9%) assessed sleep as a secondary outcome (i.e., sleep improvement was an important outcome, but not the primary outcome). The most commonly used measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Insomnia Severity Index, and sleep diaries. However, multiple additional sleep assessments were also used, including visual analogue and Likert scales.

CONCLUSIONS

The field of addiction medicine would benefit from a streamlined approach in assessing patient-reported sleep in RCTs, including commonly used and validated assessments of sleep quality, inserting daily or repeated measures into RCTs, and including questionnaires that assess clinically relevant insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Cannabidiol Effect on Cue-Induced Craving for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder Treated with Buprenorphine: A Small Proof-of-Concept Open-Label Study

Background:

Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a major public health concern. Despite the use of medications for OUD such as buprenorphine, the current gold-standard treatment, relapse in the context of increased craving remains common. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to reduce cue-induced craving in individuals with OUD, but among those who were not receiving any buprenorphine treatment. This small proof-of-concept open-label study sought to evaluate the effect of CBD on cue-induced craving among individuals with OUD who were being actively treated with buprenorphine.

Methods:

Participants (n = 5) received CBD (Epidiolex^®) 600 mg once daily for 3 consecutive days in an open-label manner. Primary outcome was cue-induced craving measured on a visual analog scale of 0 to 10, calculated as the difference in craving in response to drug-related versus neutral cues. The cue-reactivity paradigm was performed at baseline before CBD administration, and was repeated after 3 days of CBD. Secondary outcomes included scores on depression, anxiety, pain, opioid withdrawal, and side effects.

Results:

All participants were actively taking buprenorphine for an average of 37.8 months (range 1–120 months). Cue-induced craving was significantly lower after CBD dosing compared with baseline (0.4 vs. 3.2, paired t-test, p = 0.0046). No significant changes in scores for depression, anxiety, pain, or opioid withdrawal were noted. CBD was well tolerated, although one participant experienced moderate sedation; otherwise, no other adverse effects were reported.

Conclusions:

Given the high risk for bias in a small uncontrolled open label study such as this, results must be interpreted with caution. A larger adequately powered trial with a suitable control group is needed to confirm the finding that CBD may help to reduce cue-induced craving among individuals with OUD currently on buprenorphine treatment. Research should further evaluate whether adjunctive use of CBD can improve clinical outcomes for individuals with OUD maintained on buprenorphine. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04192370).

Examining Within- and Between-Person Facets of Negative Affect and Associations with Daily Craving Among Young Adults in Substance Use Disorder Recovery

The role of negative affect in precipitating drug craving and relapse among young adults in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is well documented. However, most studies focus on negative affect as a trait-level congregate of multiple negative emotion states. The present study examined the associations between specific facets of negative affect, college stressors, and craving among young adult college students in SUD recovery. Data were drawn from a three-week daily diary study of 50 students participating in a collegiate recovery community at a U.S. university (M age = 21.42, 76% males). At the within-person level, craving was higher on days when young adults experienced higher than usual anger, fear, and sadness, but not guilt. At the between-person level, individuals higher in agitation reported greater levels of craving on average. Moderation analyses further showed that college stressors heightened the within-person association between anger and craving. Findings demonstrate that negative affect is not monolithic and that its different aspects are uniquely associated with craving at both between- and within-person levels. Findings from this study could guide collegiate SUD recovery programs that wish to provide greater support to their members by helping them identify both individual- and time-specific relapse risks, such as generally high levels of agitation or days when anger, fear, or sadness are higher than usual for a particular individual. Our findings also suggest that future research should consider distinct features and implications of affective structures at between- and within-person levels, and how these may be uniquely associated with craving.

A Proof-of-Concept Ecological Momentary Assessment Study of Day-Level Dynamics in Value-Based Decision-Making in Opioid Addiction

BACKGROUND

Drug addiction is thought to be characterized by risky and impulsive behavior despite harmful consequences. Whether these aspects of value-based decision-making in people with addiction are stable and trait-like, and the degree to which they vary within-person and are sensitive to changes in psychological state, remains unknown. In this pilot study, we examined the feasibility of distinguishing these state- vs. trait-like components by probing day-level dynamics of risk and time preferences in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) as they engaged with their natural environment.

METHODS

Twenty-three individuals with OUD receiving outpatient treatment (40% female; M = 45.67 [SD = 13.16] years of age) and twenty-one matched healthy community controls (47% female; M = 49.67 [SD = 14.38] years of age) participated in a 28-day smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment study (1085 person days; M = 24.66, SD = 5.84). Random prompts administered daily assessed subjects' psychological state (e.g., mood) and economic preferences for real delayed and risky monetary rewards.

RESULTS

Subjects demonstrated dynamic decision-making preferences, with 40-53% of the variation in known risk and ambiguity tolerance, and 67% in discounting, attributable to between-person vs. within-person (day-to-day) differences. We found that changes in psychological state were related to changes in risk preferences, with patients preferring riskier offers on days they reported being in a better mood but no differences between groups in aggregate level behavior. By contrast, temporal discounting was increased overall in patients compared to controls and was unrelated to global mood. The study was well-tolerated, but compliance rates were moderate and lower in patients.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the idea that decision-making preferences in drug addiction exhibit substantial within-person variability and that this variability can be well-captured using remote data collection methods. Preliminary findings suggested that aspects of decision-making related to consideration of risk may be more sensitive to within-person change in global psychological state while those related to consideration of delay to reward, despite also being somewhat variable, stably differ from healthy levels. Identifying the cognitive factors that contribute to opioid use risk in a "real-world" setting may be important for identifying unique, time-sensitive targets for intervention.

Examining the time-varying association of negative affect and covariates with craving during treatment for prescription opioid dependence with two types of mixed models

Opioid use disorders are chronic and relapse is common. Both negative affect and craving have been suggested antecedents of relapse and have been shown to demonstrate within- and between-person variability, as well as association with each other. The present study extends previous research by examining the covariation of negative affect and craving both within-day and at the person-level during 12 days of treatment among opioid-dependent patients. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data were collected from 73 participants starting between 10 and 14 days after admission to an inpatient treatment facility. These data were analyzed using multivariate multilevel models and time-varying effect models. Results demonstrated strong association between negative affect and craving. Within-day, negative affect and craving were most associated in the early afternoon. At the person-level, association between negative affect and craving declined during the first week of data collection. Following this initial decline in association, negative affect and craving increasingly covaried during days 8-12 of data collection. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a lagged increase in the association between negative affect and craving among patients during inpatient treatment for opioid dependence. Implications for research and treatment providers are discussed.

A preliminary examination of the multiple dimensions of opioid craving

BACKGROUND

Although craving is a formal DSM-5 criterion and a commonly reported feature of opioid use disorder (OUD), there is no universally accepted assessment of opioid craving for treatment outcome studies or clinical trials. This mixed-methods study characterized dimensions of opioid craving identified in qualitative responses collected via Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT).

METHOD

Thirty-nine participants completed an online screener on AMT and met inclusion criteria (e.g., > = 18 years old and past 30-day illicit opioid use). These participants completed a series of closed- and open-ended questions about their opioid use and craving, including several commonly-used craving measures. They also rated their preference for how different questions described craving. Responses to the open-ended question "What do you mean when you say you are craving opioids?" were coded according to dimensions in existing opioid craving assessments and other common themes identified in the data.

RESULTS

Among the 39 participants, 8 different dimensions were identified and coded. Descriptions of craving were most frequently categorized as "Anticipation of Negative Reinforcement" (n = 17/39) and "Interfering Thoughts" (N = 14/39). Individuals with drug use characteristics reflecting greater severity of use were more likely to describe craving as "Interfering Thoughts". Participants may prefer opioid craving questions that included Visual Analog Scale response formats relative to Likert scales.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a wide range of dimensions that were used to describe opioid craving and no single unifying dimension was identified. These data suggest opioid craving is a multidimensional construct including dimensions currently not included in common craving assessments.

Examining the time-varying association of negative affect and covariates with craving during treatment for prescription opioid dependence with two types of mixed models

Opioid use disorders are chronic and relapse is common. Both negative affect and craving have been suggested antecedents of relapse and have been shown to demonstrate within- and between-person variability, as well as association with each other. The present study extends previous research by examining the covariation of negative affect and craving both within-day and at the person-level during 12 days of treatment among opioid-dependent patients. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data were collected from 73 participants starting between 10 and 14 days after admission to an inpatient treatment facility. These data were analyzed using multivariate multilevel models and time-varying effect models. Results demonstrated strong association between negative affect and craving. Within-day, negative affect and craving were most associated in the early afternoon. At the person-level, association between negative affect and craving declined during the first week of data collection. Following this initial decline in association, negative affect and craving increasingly covaried during days 8-12 of data collection. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a lagged increase in the association between negative affect and craving among patients during inpatient treatment for opioid dependence. Implications for research and treatment providers are discussed.

Ambulatory Assessment Methods to Examine Momentary State-Based Predictors of Opioid Use Behaviors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Addiction scientists have begun using ambulatory assessment methods-including ecological momentary assessment (EMA), experience sampling, and daily diaries-to collect real-time or near-real-time reports of participants' internal states in their natural environments. The goal of this short review is to synthesize EMA findings from our research group, which has studied several hundred outpatients during treatment for opioid-use disorder (OUD). (We cite pertinent findings from other groups, but have not tried to be comprehensive.) One of our main goals in using EMA is to examine momentary changes in internal states that proximally predict, or concurrently mark, events such as lapses to opioid use.

RECENT FINDINGS

We summarize findings evaluating several classes of momentary markers or predictors (craving, stress, negative and positive moods, and physical pain/discomfort) of lapses and other states/behaviors. Craving and some negatively valenced mood states are concurrently and prospectively associated with lapses to opioid use during treatment. Craving is also concurrently and prospectively associated with momentary changes in stress and mood. Convincing evidence has not yet emerged for stress as a robust redictor of lapse to opioid use; it appears to be contributory, but neither necessary nor sufficient.

SUMMARY

Ambulatory assessment can capture changes in internal states and drug-related behaviors in situ and at high temporal resolution. We recommend research strategies that may increase the clinical and prognostic utility of ambulatory assessment, including denser sampling (i.e., more assessments per day) and more attention to heterogeneity across people and across populations.

Technologies for Opioid Use Disorder Management: Mobile App Search and Scoping Review

Background

Advances in technology engender the investigation of technological solutions to opioid use disorder (OUD). However, in comparison to chronic disease management, the application of mobile health (mHealth) to OUD has been limited.

Objective

The overarching aim of our research was to design OUD management technologies that utilize wearable sensors to provide continuous monitoring capabilities. The objectives of this study were to (1) document the currently available opioid-related mHealth apps, (2) review past and existing technology solutions that address OUD, and (3) discuss opportunities for technological withdrawal management solutions.

Methods

We used a two-phase parallel search approach: (1) an app search to determine the availability of opioid-related mHealth apps and (2) a scoping review of relevant literature to identify relevant technologies and mHealth apps used to address OUD.

Results

The app search revealed a steady rise in app development, with most apps being clinician-facing. Most of the apps were designed to aid in opioid dose conversion. Despite the availability of these apps, the scoping review found no study that investigated the efficacy of mHealth apps to address OUD.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight a general gap in technological solutions of OUD management and the potential for mHealth apps and wearable sensors to address OUD.

Craving and opioid use disorder: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

The subjective experience of drug craving is a prominent and common clinical phenomenon for many individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD), and could be a valuable clinical endpoint in medication development studies. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide an overview and critical analysis of opioid craving assessments located in the published literature examining OUD.

METHOD

Studies were identified through a search of PubMed, Embase, and PsychInfo databases and included for review if opioid craving was the focus and participants were diagnosed with or in treatment for OUD.

RESULTS

Fifteen opioid craving assessment instruments were identified across the 87 studies included for review. The most common were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 41 studies), Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ, 12 studies), Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ, 10 studies), and Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale (OCDUS, 10 studies). Craving assessments varied considerably in their format, content, time frame, and underlying subscales, and only 6 of 15 had been psychometrically evaluated.

DISCUSSION

This review identified a variety of opioid craving assessments, but few had been evaluated for their psychometric properties making it difficult to ascertain whether craving is being assessed optimally in studies of OUD. Thus, the development of a reliable and valid opioid craving assessment would be worthwhile and could be guided by recently published Food and Drug Administration Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA) guidelines. Importantly, a COA focused on opioid craving could be a valuable addition to research studies designed to evaluate novel treatments for OUD.

Stress, craving and mood as predictors of early dropout from opioid agonist therapy

BACKGROUND

Treatment with opioid agonists is effective for opioid use disorder, but early discontinuation of treatment is a major obstacle to success. Intensive longitudinal methods - which take many repeated measurements over time, usually in the field- have provided unique insight into the effects of stress, mood and craving on drug use while people are being treated; these methods might also be useful for studying the processes that lead people to drop out of treatment.

METHODS

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) was conducted for up to 17 weeks by obtaining multiple electronic diary entries per day from 238 participants being treated with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone. Survival analysis was used to study two outcomes: dropping out of treatment and noncompliance with EMA self-report requirements. Self-reports of stress, craving, and mood were used as time-varying predictors. Demographic and psychosocial variables measured with the Addiction Severity Index at the start of treatment were used as time-invariant predictors.

RESULTS

Dropping out of treatment was more likely in participants with more reported hassles (a measure of stress), higher levels of cocaine craving, lower levels of positive mood, a recent history of emotional abuse, a recent history of being bothered frequently by psychological problems, and with buprenorphine rather than methadone as their medication. In contrast, study noncompliance was not significantly associated with any of the variables analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of stress, craving and mood during treatment might identify people who are at greater risk of dropping out, and therapeutic interventions targeting these processes might increase retention.

Sleep reductions associated with illicit opioid use and clinic-hour changes during opioid agonist treatment for opioid dependence: Measurement by electronic diary and actigraphy

Sleep problems are commonly reported during opioid agonist treatment (OAT) for opioid use disorders. Inpatient studies have found both sleep disturbances and improved sleep during OAT. Illicit opioids can also disrupt sleep, but it is unclear how they affect sleep in outpatients receiving OAT. Therefore, we used electronic diary entries and actigraphy to measure sleep duration and timing in opioid-dependent participants (n = 37) treated with methadone (n = 15) or buprenorphine (n = 22). For 16 weeks, participants were assigned to attend our clinic under different operating hours in a crossover design: Early hours (07:00-09:00) vs. Late hours (12:00-13:00) for 4 weeks each in randomized order, followed for all participants by our Standard clinic hours (07:00-11:30) for 8 weeks. Throughout, participants made daily electronic diary self-reports of their sleep upon waking; they also wore a wrist actigraph for 6 nights in each of the three clinic-hour conditions. Drug use was assessed by thrice-weekly urinalysis. In linear mixed models controlling for other sleep-relevant factors, sleep duration and timing differed by drug use and by clinic hours. Compared to when non-using, participants slept less, went to bed later, and woke later when using illicit opioids and/or both illicit opioids and cocaine. Participants slept less and woke earlier when assigned to the Early hours. These findings highlight the role OAT clinic schedules can play in structuring the sleep/wake cycles of OAT patients and clarify some of the circumstances under which OAT patients experience sleep disruption in daily life.