Early Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Inpatient Detoxification and Motivation Treatment: Results and Consequences
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: AIMS: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant comorbidity in substance use disorders (SUDs). While most studies have addressed trauma/PTSD in abstinent patients, little is known about trauma/PTSD in early detoxification treatment. The current study therefore addresses the systematic evaluation of trauma/PTSD in early inpatient detoxification. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was accomplished in three German-speaking clinics (n = 134) specialized in inpatient detoxification and motivation treatment. All measures are based on self-report using trauma-specific questionnaires and measures for general psychopathological burden. RESULTS: Participation rate was 60.1% and patients did not show clinically obvious psychological distress during or after assessment. DSM-IV traumatic events were reported by 66.4%. Of the total sample, 38.1% screened positive for PTSD, and 14.9% screened positive for subsyndromal PTSD. PTSD patients reported significantly more childhood adversities and significantly higher scores in depression and -general psychopathology compared to subsyndromal PTSD and SUD-only patients. CONCLUSIONS: Early and systematic evaluation of PTSD in SUD inpatient detoxification treatment is largely safe and yields important information for individual treatment. The high PTSD-rate and the high symptom load in SUD patients during inpatient detoxification treatment highlight the need for a more stringent address of trauma/PTSD in early SUD treatment.
Source: European Addiction Research
DOI: 10.1159/000490382
Institutions: University of Basel, University of Konstanz
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2811124566