A Survey of Psychological Symptoms and Brief Cognitive Assessment Among Methadone Clinic Patients in Yunnan Province

Background Cognitive and psychological impairments are commonly found among heroin-dependent individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This study investigates the screening methods and influencing factors of cognitive and psychological impairments in this population, aiming to improve treatment adherence and social functioning in MMT patients. Methods In a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2022-December 2023, a total of 293 valid questionnaires were collected and included in the study.The Yunnan Province MMT outpatient clinic conducted a questionnaire survey, which included general sociological data, the SCL-90 (90-item Self-rating Scale for Symptoms) questionnaire to investigate psychological status, the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) scale to assess cognitive function, and an analysis of the factors affecting the psychological cognition of the patients. The analyses were based in part on conventional statistical testing (t-test, χ ² -test,and Binary logistic regression). Results (1)In our sample, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 52.2%, with a prevalence of depressive symptoms at 64.8% and anxiety symptoms at 54.3%; (2)Influencing factors of cognitive impairment in MMT patients with different characteristics: age level differences was statistically significant. (P < 0.05); (3) The SCL-90 scale of MMT patients showed a statistically significant difference in the nine factors of mental symptoms compared with the Chinese positive normal mode (P < 0.001); (4)The factors affecting depression of MMT patients with different characteristics were statistically different: whether they lived alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion A significant proportion of Chinese patients undergoing MMT experience depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairments during the course of treatment. It is necessary to provide timely and effective psychological interventions for this high-risk population and control the influencing factors.