Treatment of depressive syndromes in detoxified drug addicts: use of methadone

Depressive syndromes are very frequent in drug-addicted patients. Their study is particularly difficult on account of the toxic intake which disturbs the clinical analysis. Methadone has improved our understanding of these pathologies. In fact, methadone permits treatment of some depressive disorders typically linked to addiction, such as amotivational symptoms and depressive mood following intoxication. It brings to the fore the other mood disorders which are often associated with drug intake.