Objective: Heroin dependence has a major impact on the lives of patients and anyone who lives with them. Several studies have shown that the disease substantially interferes with the patients daily activities; disrupts social life and disturbs emotional well-being. In recent years, health-related quality of life (QoL) has been specifically investigated among individuals who are heroin users. The aim of this study is to investigate the family burden, quality of life (QoL) and psychiatric disorders in relatives of heroin dependent patients and to compare them with healthy controls
Methods: A total of 40 heroin dependent patients and 40 of their relatives as well as 40 healthy subjects and 40 of their relatives were included in the study. Heroin dependence and comorbid anxiety or mood disorders were determined by means of Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Family burden and QoL in the relatives were evaluated with the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) protocol and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Brief, respectively.
Results: According to SCID-I, major depression was significantly higher in the relatives of patients compared to the control relatives (p=0.003). The mean ZBI score of family members of heroin dependent patients was higher than the control relatives. The mean ZBI score in the relatives of heroin dependent patients was 41.5±21.37, while the score in the control relatives was 11.02±8.3. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.000). In addition, compared with those of control relatives, the QoL of relatives of heroin dependent patients was significantly lower in all domains (p<0,000).
Conclusions: The study suggests that heroin dependence not only affects the lives of patients but also their family members. Heroin dependence leads to high burden on the family and also impairs the QoL of relatives.