The Effectiveness of Seeking Safety on Reducing PTSD Symptoms in Clients Receiving Substance Dependence Treatment

Abstract

An evaluation of the Seeking Safety (SS) program was conducted in a 28-day substance abuse treatment facility. The evaluation included 12 male and 28 female participants with a mean age of 33 years. The Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 was utilized as an outcome measure to statistically compare posttest to pretest group means. Results showed significant decreases, from pretest to posttest, on the total score and on several subscales of the measure. Effect sizes were large (d < 0.80) across all scales with the exception of Male Sexual Problems (d = .46). Overall, results suggest that incorporating SS as an adjunct to treatment as usual can help lower trauma symptoms in those receiving substance dependence treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Seeking Safety
• treatment
• PTSD symptoms
• substance abuse
• substance dependence
• addiction

Notes

*p < 0.05

**p < 0.01.

*p < 0.05

**p < 0.01

***p < 0.001.