Dissociation and Treatment Outcome in Urban Women with PTSD and Substance Abuse - Dissociation and Treatment Outcome in Urban Women with Comorbid PTSD

Clinician and researchers continue to encounter significantchallenges in treating women dually diagnosed with posttraumaticstress disorder (PTSD) and a substance use disorder (SUD). Thisstudy examined the predictive value of dissociation on treatmentoutcome and determined whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)treatment interventions are effective in reducing reporteddissociation in urban women dually diagnosed with PTSD and SUD. Asecondary aim examined the relationship between dissociation andtherapeutic alliance. Analyses also tested for therapist effects.Women were randomly assigned to either a standard relapseprevention or integrated Seeking Safety treatment interventiongroup. These intervention groups were compared to a non-randomizedstandard community care control group. Results revealed that CBTtreatment intervention is effective in reducing reporteddissociation scores. In addition when compared pair-wise, it wasfound that some therapists were more effective in reducing reporteddissociation scores. Baseline dissociation scores did not predicttreatment outcome and there was no significant relationship betweendissociation and therapeutic alliance.