Title The impact of detoxification on quality of life in patients with chronic pain on long-term prescription opioids
Translation of Title Detoksikacijos įtaka gyvenimo kokybei lėtinį skausmą patiriantiems pacientams, ilgą laiką vartojantiems receptinius opioidus.
Authors Laubner-Sakalauskienė, Gabija
DOI 10.15388/vu.thesis.803
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Pages 208
Keywords [eng] detoxification ; chronic pain ; prescription opioids ; quality of life
Abstract [eng] Chronic pain is one of the greatest challenges faced by healthcare systems, and opioid analgesics—despite their high potential for dependence—are widely used for pain relief. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the long-term consequences of opioid use and the possibilities for safely discontinuing their use. This dissertation presents a comprehensive review of the scientific literature to analyze the consequences of long-term opioid use and the potential changes in quality of life following opioid discontinuation. The dissertation describes a prospective clinical study conducted during the doctoral research, involving 45 patients treated at the Toxicology Centre of Vilnius University Hospital. Detoxification from prescription opioids was performed on 44 of the participants. The collected data represent a reliable and representative sample, providing a comprehensive view of the impact of this method on quality of life. The study methodology included assessing patients' quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire. Additionally, vitamin D levels were measured prior to detoxification, and their association with quality of life and pain intensity was examined. The results showed that detoxification significantly improved patients' quality of life and reduced experienced pain. The study revealed that successful opioid detoxification can be an effective solution not only for ending dependence but also for enhancing patient well-being and improving pain management. The findings of this dissertation are important for both clinical practice and healthcare policy, as they provide tools to help healthcare professionals balance effective pain management with the prevention of addiction risks. The study’s conclusions may contribute to more informed and balanced opioid prescribing practices and promote safer patient care.
Dissertation Institution Vilniaus universitetas.
Type Doctoral thesis
Language English
Publication date 2025