Integrated exposure-based therapy for co-occurring post-traumatic stress and substance use among young people: a randomized controlled trial.
Katherine L Mills, Natalie Peach, Ivana Kihas et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of the integrated exposure-based treatment COPE-A for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in young people aged 12-25. Conducted in Sydney, Australia, with 55 participants, COPE-A resulted in significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptom severity (mean difference -9.82) and diagnosis at 4 months compared to supportive counseling (PCT), with effects maintained at 12 months.
Key findings
- COPE-A led to a mean difference of -9.82 in PTSD symptom severity at 4 months.
- At 4 months, only 20.0% of COPE-A participants met PTSD diagnostic criteria compared to 66.7% in PCT.
- Client satisfaction scores were significantly higher in COPE-A than in PCT.
- Both treatments showed reductions in substance use severity, but no significant between-group differences.
Why it matters
The study highlights the potential for integrated treatments to effectively address co-occurring PTSD and SUD in young populations, which is crucial given the developmental onset of these disorders. Improved outcomes in a shorter timeframe may enhance treatment engagement and overall recovery.