Iftekhar Ahmed
Pharmacological Treatment of Depression and Clinical Outcomes During Buprenorphine Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) represents a major health crisis in the United States and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Buprenorphine maintenance therapy (BMT) is an effective treatment for OUD. However, nearly one-third of patients with OUD have co-occurring depression which is associated with poor retention to BMT and increases the risk of opioid use and opioid overdose. It is, therefore, likely that pharmacological treatment of depression will improve retention to BMT and treatment outcomes. However, the effect of antidepressants on clinical outcomes during BMT remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the impact of antidepressant treatment on retention to BMT, relapse to opioid use, opioid overdose, and mortality. Specifically, a population based observational study using data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care is proposed. Overall, this study will inform clinicians about the effective management of OUD in patients with comorbid depression.
I would like to thank the PhRMA Foundation for supporting my research on opioid use disorder and depression. This award serves as a recognition of the potential impact of my research in pharmacoepidemiology and is a significant milestone in my graduate education.
