NIDA CTN-0015: Women’s Treatment for Trauma and Substance Use Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is common among people with substance use disorders, and patients suffering from both of these conditions have a more difficult time meeting their treatment goals. Estimates suggest that as many as 80% of women seeking treatment for drug abuse report lifetime histories of sexual and/or physical assault. These facts highlight the importance of finding effective treatments for this high-risk population. Early studies showed that Seeking Safety, a treatment designed specifically for patients with PTSD and substance use disorders, held great potential for this population. This study compared the effectiveness of Seeking Safety added to substance abuse treatment-as-usual (TAU) with Women’s Health Education added to TAU. The researchers looked at the effect of these treatment options on both substance use and the severity of PTSD symptoms.
Part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network. The Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute serves as the Regional Research and Training Center (RRTC) of the Pacific Northwest Node, which participated in this protocol.
Investigators
Denise Hien, PhD Lead Investigator (Saint Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center"
Project Staff
Fund Information
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Grant #:
Start: January 2004
End: October 2005
Status: completed
Project Site
CTN Dissemination Library protocol page for CTN-0015
Project Results
Analyses showed large, clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms over the course of treatment and follow-up, but no reliable difference between the study groups. Substance use outcomes were not significantly different over time between the two treatments and at follow-up showed no significant change from baseline. Seeking Safety therapy was not associated with increases in substance use, adverse events, or dropout from treatment or study participation. The results reflect considerable opportunity to improve clinical outcomes in community-based treatments for these co-occurring conditions.
Citation: Hien D, et al. Multisite Randomized Trial of Behavioral Interventions for Women with Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2009;77(4):607-619. [free online]
