Combining therapies for PTSD and substance use disorder treatment

Presence of PTSD and Emotion Dysregulation Among Inpatients With Substance Use Disorder; a Feasibility Study of a Combined Treatment for Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and PTSD

This study is testing a new way to help people with both PTSD and substance use problems by combining two types of therapy to see if it improves their treatment experience and outcomes.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Molde, Møre And Romsdal)
• Trial ID: NCT06345053 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to address the high rates of co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among patients undergoing treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). It integrates Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Substance Use Disorder (DBT-SUD) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) into standard SUD treatment to assess their combined effectiveness. The study focuses on patients who experience PTSD symptoms and aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of this integrated approach. By doing so, it seeks to improve treatment outcomes and reduce dropout rates among this vulnerable population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are inpatients who have a diagnosis of substance use disorder and experience symptoms of PTSD.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have PTSD symptoms or do not meet the criteria for substance use disorder may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the mental health and recovery outcomes for patients with both PTSD and substance use disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in integrating trauma-focused therapies with substance use treatment, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* General inclusion criteria for the study:

  1. Fit general inclusion criteria for the in-patient program.
  2. Speak Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish and/or Swedish).
  3. Be willing to sign a consent.

Inclusion criteria for NET intervention:

1. Experience of an aversive event that fits criteria A for PTSD as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) (American Psychiatric Association \[APA\], 2013).
2. Experience symptoms of PTSD as defined by the DSM-V (APA, 2013), or subthreshold PTSD (Grubaugh et al., 2005), or experience clinically relevant symptoms as evaluated by a NET therapist.

   1. Subthreshold PTSD is defined as having experienced a traumatic event (Criteria A), meeting Criteria B (re-experiencing symptoms), Criteria E (one-month symptom duration), and Criteria F (significant distress or functioning impairment) and either Criteria C (avoidance or numbing symptoms) or Criteria D (hyper arousal symptoms).

Inclusion criteria for DBT intervention:

1. Experience difficulties in emotion regulation evaluated by an assigned DBT therapist.
2. Manage to commit to participating in the DBT- skills training.

Exclusion Criteria:

* General exclusion criteria for the study:

  1. Have a clinically significant low cognitive- and/or linguistic functioning that hinders the patient in understanding and answering the questions on the self-rapport instruments.

Exclusion criteria for NET and/or DBT-SUD skills

1. Being actively psychotic.
2. Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 17.
3. Severe dissociation.
4. An ongoing traumatic contact with the perpetrator.

Where this trial is running

Molde, Møre And Romsdal

• Molde Treatment Center, Møre and Romsdal Hospital Trust — Molde, Møre And Romsdal, Norway (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Johanna Vigfusdottir — Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Study coordinator: Johanna Vigfusdottir

Conditions Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Substance Use Disorders; Emotion Regulation; Suicide; Self-harm; Dialectical Behaviour Therapy; Narrative Exposure Therapy