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Seeking Safety Therapy for Adolescent Girls with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

This randomized, controlled trial evaluated a manualized psychotherapy, Seeking Safety (SS), for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescent females. To our knowledge, no prior study has evaluated any psychotherapy designed for this population. SS was compared to treatment as usual (TAU) for 33 outpatients, at intake, end-of-treatment, and 3 months follow-up. SS evidenced significantly better outcomes than TAU in a variety of domains at posttreatment, including substance use and associated problems, some trauma-related symptoms, cognitions related to SUD and PTSD, and several areas of pathology not targeted in the treatment (e.g., anorexia, somatization). Effect sizes were generally in the moderate to high range. Some gains were sustained at follow-up. SS appears a promising treatment for this population, but needs further study and perhaps additional clinical modification.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School (115 Mill St., Belmont, MA). The research was supported in part by grants R21 AA-12181 from the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism in collaboration with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, grants K02 DA-00400 and K02 DA-00326 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Dr. Ralph and Marian C. Falk Medical Research Trust. We thank Martha Schmitz, PhD, and Patricia Vriesendorp, PhD, for their role as therapists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Lisa M. Najavits PhD & Roger D. Weiss MD

  2. McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA, 02478, USA

    Lisa M. Najavits PhD & Roger D. Weiss MD

  3. Applied Statistics Program, West Chester University, 323B Anderson Hall, West Chester, PA, 19383, USA

    Robert J. Gallop PhD

  4. Treatment Innovations, 12 Colbourne Crescent, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA

    Lisa M. Najavits PhD

Authors
  1. Lisa M. Najavits PhD
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  2. Robert J. Gallop PhD
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  3. Roger D. Weiss MD
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Correspondence to Lisa M. Najavits PhD.

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Najavits, L.M., Gallop, R.J. & Weiss, R.D. Seeking Safety Therapy for Adolescent Girls with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Behav Health Serv Res 33, 453–463 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9034-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9034-2

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