Evaluation of Quality of Life, Social and Psychological Aspects, and Electroencephalographic (EEG) Changes in Long-term Tramadol Addiction Groups

Background: One of the most commonly used substances among drug abusers in Egypt is tramadol. This high prevalence of tramadol use is supported by previous studies. The longterm use of opioids may induce the structural alteration of neurons. Seizure inducing effect of Tramadol is controversial. Electroencephalogram parameters were not a predictive for seizures. Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more likely to be diagnosed with comorbid psychiatric disorders than are individuals without SUDs.
Objectives: current study to evaluation of quality of life, social and psychological aspects and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes in long-term tramadol addiction groups. To provide a proposed perspective from group work method to improve quality of life and alleviate social, psychological and neurological Symptoms in tramadol addiction groups.    
Methods: current study is conducted for tramadol only dependent patients who were carefully selected to be admitted to the addiction treatment department of Assiut Mental Health Hospital. Patients were assessed by psychiatric interview, general examination, the socioeconomic level of family index, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), The Arabic Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), and Standard Electroencephalogram (EEG) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHO
QOL – BREF).
Results: Results showed that revealed 80% of the study group members suffer from a low quality of life, using the quality of life scale and a significant decrease in the quality of life scores of the study group (mean ± standard deviation = 72.39 ± 15.47) compared to the control group (mean ± standard deviation = 37.54 ± 15.02).  In addition, study results showed a high statistically significant correlations were found between tramadol dose with HAM-A scores (P=0.001); HDRS scores (P=0.001); physical and/or verbal aggression scores (P=0.001). Conversley, a statistically significant correlation was found between duration of tramadol dependence with HAM-A scores (P=0.039) and verbal aggression score (P=0.03). Lastly, no statistically significant change was found in EEG findings in the group with seizures in comparison to the group without seizures. And provided a proposed perspective from group work method to improve quality of life and alleviate social, psychological and neurological Symptoms in tramadol addiction groups.