Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 28, Issue 4 , Pages 313-319, June 2005

A survey of PTSD screening and referral practices in VA addiction treatment programs☆

  • Helena E. Young, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 493 5000x22976; fax: +1 617 2584
    • ,
  • Craig S. Rosen, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
    • VA Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94025, USA
    • Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
    • ,
  • John W. Finney, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • VA Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94025, USA
    • Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
    • Stanford-VA Center for Health Care Evaluation, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA

Received 31 May 2004; received in revised form 25 February 2005; accepted 25 February 2005.

Abstract 

Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) demonstrate worse outcomes following treatment for SUDs than do veterans with SUDs only, and so PTSD treatment may enhance SUD outcomes for patients. A survey of current practice patterns in VA SUD treatment programs was undertaken to determine their concurrence with emerging practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment of SUD–PTSD comorbidity. Clinicians in outpatient SUD clinics and/or inpatient SUD programs were surveyed in six VA medical centers in 1999 and 2001 (respondents n = 57 and n = 39, respectively). Although one half to two thirds of clinicians working with SUD patients routinely screen for trauma exposure and PTSD, few assessments are systematically conducted using validated measures. Routine referrals to PTSD specialty and dual-diagnosis programs and to veterans' centers are made by between 35% and 60% of providers across inpatient and outpatient settings. Implications for improvement of clinical outcomes are discussed.

Keywords: Substance use, Posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, Trauma, Veterans

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

☆ The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

PII: S0740-5472(05)00048-6

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2005.02.006

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 28, Issue 4 , Pages 313-319, June 2005

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution