Glenys Dore
Northern Sydney Drug and Alcohol Service, Australia
Title: Stuck in a moment in time: brief interventions for comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders
Biography
Biography: Glenys Dore
Abstract
Trauma exposure and PTSD are common among patients of Mental Health services. Existing treatments for these co-occurring conditions tend to be lengthy, treatment retention is relatively poor, and they require extensive training and clinical supervision. This paper presents the findings of a pilot study conducted to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a brief intervention for PTSD symptoms for individuals with co-existing substance use disorders. The brief intervention consisted of a single, one-hour manualised session providing psychoeducation pertaining to common trauma reactions and symptom management. Participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. PTSD symptom severity decreased significantly from baseline to 1-week follow-up and again between the 1-week and 3-month follow-ups. The brief intervention may best be conceptualized as a “stepping stone” to further trauma treatment, allowing patients to experience increased understanding of their psychological reactions to trauma as well as a reduction in the severity of their symptoms.