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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2016, 18, 3 (pages: 9 - 14)

Effect of methadone maintenance treatment of opioid dependent fathers on mental health and perceived family functioning of their children

Hassanpour-Dehkordi A., Safavi P., Parvin N., and Mosayebi B.

Summary: Background: Substance abuse has negative effects on the mental and social adaptation of children living with the adults who are involved in this behaviour. This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the effects of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) of opioid-dependent fathers on the mental health and perceived family functioning of their children. Methods: In this clinical trial, 40 children (with ages ranging from 11 to 18 years) whose fathers were in methadone maintenance treatment in two MMT clinics in Shahrekord, Iran, were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (self- and parent report), Family Assessment Device (FAD), and Parent-Child Relationship Survey (PCRS) conducted prior to, and then 3 and 6 months after the intervention. The collected data were analysed by applying repeated measure tests using SPSS16 software. Results: There were significant differences between the data collected initially at baseline, and then 3 and 6 months after the intervention measurements that were based on SDQ mean difficulty scores in the parent and child versions (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), and on the pro-social behaviour subscale in the form prepared for parents (p=0.003), but not in that prepared for children (p=0.085). Mean total score and subscale scores of FAD did not change significantly (p=0.064), except for the emotional involvement subscale (p=0.032). PCRS mean scores did not change significantly, either (p=0.108). Conclusions: The emotional and behavioural difficulties of children of substance-abusing fathers improved during 6 months of methadone maintenance treatment, but neither perceived family functioning nor the parent-child relationships involved changed significantly. Family-based psychological interventions such as training in parenting skills, communication training, and problem solving may be necessary to improve the family and parenting functions of fathers on MMT.