Integrated treatment for trauma and addiction: Seeking Safety.

This presentation discusses a variety of clinical challenges in the treatment of traumatic stress and addiction in women. Over the past decade, researchers and practitioners have become increasingly aware of the significant relationship between trauma exposure and substance use disorders in women. It is estimated that as many as 80% of women seeking treatment for substance use disorders report lifetime histories of sexual and/or physical assault.

This presentation provides an overview of cognitive and neurobiological theories and models that have been applied to understanding trauma and addiction comorbidity. It also reviews empirically supported approaches developed for women with co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders, as well as relevant approaches such as Motivational Interviewing and relapse prevention that can be applied to support clinical work with trauma and addictions. Specifically, the presentation discusses a treatment program called “Seeking Safety,” currently being studied by the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (protocol CTN-0015, “Women’s Treatment for Trauma and Substance Use Disorders”). This is a short-term, manualized treatment program designed specifically for women with trauma/PTSD and substance use disorders. In protocol CTN-0015, it is being compared to a psychoeducational program focused on health topics of special relevance for women called “Women’s Health Education.”

Related protocols: CTN-0015