Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse

Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse

by Lisa M. Najavits PhD
ISBN-10:
1572306394
ISBN-13:
9781572306394
Pub. Date:
12/14/2001
Publisher:
Guilford Publications, Inc.
ISBN-10:
1572306394
ISBN-13:
9781572306394
Pub. Date:
12/14/2001
Publisher:
Guilford Publications, Inc.
Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse

Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse

by Lisa M. Najavits PhD
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Overview

This manual presents the most widely adopted evidence-based treatment for co-occurring trauma and addiction. For clients facing one or both of these issues, the most urgent clinical need is to establish safety—to reduce addictive behavior, build healthy relationships, manage symptoms such as dissociation and self-harm, and restore ideals that have been lost. Seeking Safety focuses on coping skills in the present; it can be implemented with individuals or groups, by any provider as well as peers. It offers 25 topics, such as Asking for Help, Taking Good Care of Yourself, Setting Boundaries in Relationships, Healing from Anger, Honesty, and Coping with Triggers. The model is highly flexible, practical, and engaging, and can be conducted with any other treatment, including the author's past-focused model, Creating Change. The book has a large-size format and features reproducible client handouts that can be photocopied or downloaded.

See also Creating Change: A Past-Focused Treatment for Trauma and Addiction, and the self-help guide Finding Your Best Self, Revised Edition: Recovery from Addiction, Trauma, or Both, an ideal client recommendation.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781572306394
Publisher: Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date: 12/14/2001
Series: The Guilford Substance Abuse Series
Pages: 401
Sales rank: 145,418
Product dimensions: 8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Lisa M. Najavits, PhD, is Adjunct Professor at T.H. Chan School of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, and Director of Treatment Innovations. She was on the faculty of Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital for 25 years and Boston University School of Medicine/VA Boston for 12 years. Dr. Najavits specializes in the development of new counseling models for trauma and addiction, clinical trials research, and community-based care. She is author of over 200 publications, including the books Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse; Finding Your Best Self: Recovery from Addiction, Trauma, or Both; A Woman's Addiction Workbook; and Creating Change: A Past-Focused Treatment for Trauma and Addiction. She has served as president of the Society of Addiction Psychology of the American Psychological Association and has consulted widely on public health efforts in trauma and addiction, both nationally and internationally. She is a recipient of the Young Professional Award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Early Career Contribution Award from the Society for Psychotherapy Research, the Emerging Leadership Award from the Committee on Women in Psychology of the American Psychological Association, the Betty Ford Award from the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction, and the Distinguished Alumna Award from Barnard College. Dr. Najavits is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and conducts a psychotherapy practice.

Read an Excerpt

Seeking Safety

A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse
By Lisa M. Najavits

The Guilford Press

Copyright © 2002 The Guilford Press
All right reserved.

ISBN: 1-57230-639-4


Chapter One

Overview

PTSD AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

PTSD and Substance Abuse: Patients' Perspective

"The more I use, the more I won't feel anything. The pain is so bad you just want to die. There is no other way out. If you talk about it, it will hurt too much. So instead, keep it a secret. No one will know."

"When I was sober I was crazy, hiding under the bed."

These patients have lived what is only beginning to be understood within the mental health and substance abuse fields-that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse co-occur for a very large number of people, particularly women. Their stories also point to several major themes that are becoming increasingly recognized, based on clinical and scientific evidence:

* The dual diagnosis of PTSD and substance abuse is surprisingly common. The rate of PTSD among patients in substance abuse treatment is 12%-34%; for women it is 30%-59%. Rates of lifetime trauma are even more common (Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995; Langeland & Hartgers, 1998; Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1997; Stewart, 1996; Stewart, Conrod, Pihl, & Dongier, 1999; Triffleman, 1998).

* Becoming abstinent from substances does notresolve PTSD; indeed, some PTSD symptoms become worse with abstinence (Brady, Killeen, Saladin, Dansky, & Becker, 1994; Kofoed, Friedman, & Peck, 1993; Root, 1989).

* Treatment outcomes for patients with PTSD and substance abuse are worse than for other dual-diagnosis patients and for patients with substance abuse alone (Ouimette, Ahrens, Moos, & Finney, 1998; Ouimette, Finney, & Moos, 1999).

* People with PTSD and substance abuse tend to abuse "hard drugs" (cocaine and opiates); prescription medications, marijuana, and alcohol are also common. Substance abuse is often viewed as "self-medication" to cope with the overwhelming emotional pain of PTSD (Breslau, Davis, Peterson, & Schultz, 1997; Chilcoat & Breslau, 1998; Cottler, Compton, Mager, Spitznagel, & Janca, 1992; Dansky, Saladin, Brady, Kilpatrick, & Resnick, 1995; Goldenberg et al., 1995; Grice, Brady, Dustan, Malcolm, & Kilpatrick, 1995; Hien & Levin, 1994).

* People with PTSD and substance abuse are vulnerable to repeated traumas (Fullilove et al., 1993; Herman, 1992), and more so than patients with substance abuse alone (Dansky, Brady, & Saladin, 1998).

* People with both disorders suffer a variety of life problems that may complicate their clinical profile, including other DSM-IV disorders, interpersonal and medical problems, maltreatment of their children, custody battles, homelessness, HIV risk, and domestic violence (Brady, Dansky, Sonne, & Saladin, 1998; Brady et al., 1994; Brown & Wolfe, 1994; Dansky, Byrne, & Brady, 1999; Najavits et al., 1998c).

* People with PTSD and substance abuse have a more severe clinical profile than those with just one of these disorders (Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1999b; Najavits et al., 1998c).

* Among patients in substance abuse treatment, this dual diagnosis is two to three times more common in women than in men (Brown & Wolfe, 1994; Najavits et al., 1998c).

* Most women with this dual diagnosis experienced childhood physical and/or sexual abuse; men with both disorders typically experienced crime victimization or war trauma (Brady et al., 1998; Kessler et al., 1995; Najavits et al., 1998c).

* PTSD and substance abuse have consistently been found to co-occur, regardless of the nature of the trauma or the type of substance used (Keane & Wolfe, 1990; Kofoed et al., 1993).

* A "downward spiral" is common. For example, substance use may increase vulnerability to new traumas, which in turn can lead to more substance use (Fullilove et al., 1993). From patients' perspective, PTSD symptoms are common triggers of substance use (Abueg & Fairbank, 1991; Brown, Recupero, & Stout, 1995), which in turn can heighten PTSD symptoms (Brown, Stout, & Gannon-Rowley, 1998; Kofoed et al., 1993; Kovach, 1986; Root, 1989).

* Various subgroups have high rates of this dual diagnosis, including combat veterans, prisoners, victims of domestic violence, the homeless, and adolescents (Bremner, Southwick, Darnell, & Charney, 1996; Clark & Kirisci, 1996; Dansky et al., 1999; Davis & Wood, 1999; Jordan, Schlenger, Fairbank, & Caddell, 1996; Kilpatrick et al., 2000; Ruzek, Polusny, & Abueg, 1998).

* The connection between PTSD and substance abuse appears to be enduring, rather than simply an artifact of substance use, withdrawal, or overlapping DSM-IV criteria (Bolo, 1991; Kofoed et al., 1993).

* Perpetrators of violent assault use substances at the time of assault in a high percentage of domestic abuse (50%) and rape (39%) cases (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992).

PTSD and Substance Abuse: Therapists' Perspective

The other half of the clinical equation is the therapist's perspective. One social worker in private practice said,

"I used to feel that I wouldn't go near substance abuse patients with a 10-foot pole-I wouldn't treat them and was pretty judgmental of them. Mostly I didn't understand them. But when I became aware that many have a history of trauma I began to feel more compassionate. I realized how often they are self-medicating their pain."

A psychiatrist on the substance abuse unit of a hospital said,

"Where I work, patients are told to get off of substances first-only once they are clean can they deal with the trauma. They get four substance abuse groups a day but no groups for PTSD. Some of them feel invalidated, as though their trauma doesn't matter."

Clinicians may feel confusion over how to treat such patients. For example:

* "Should the patient talk about painful trauma memories during treatment?"

* "Do I insist the patient must become substance-free before we work on the PTSD?"

* "How can I contain a patient who becomes overwhelmed by PTSD symptoms?"

* "Should I discontinue treatment if the patient keeps using substances?"

* "Does psychotherapy for this population work?"

* "Should I insist that the patient go to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?"

Just as new knowledge has arisen about patients, new knowledge is also growing about treatment:

* Most clinical programs treat PTSD or substance abuse, but rarely both. Yet an integrated model-treating both disorders at the same time-is recommended by both clinicians and researchers as more likely to succeed, more cost-effective, and more sensitive to patient needs (Abueg & Fairbank, 1991; Bollerud, 1990; Brady et al., 1994; Brown et al., 1995; Brown, Stout, & Mueller, 1999; Evans & Sullivan, 1995; Fullilove et al., 1993; Kofoed et al., 1993; Najavits, Weiss, & Liese, 1996c; Sullivan & Evans, 1994). Patients too favor integrated treatment of these disorders (Brown et al., 1998).

* The majority of patients with PTSD and substance abuse do not receive PTSD-focused treatment (Brown et al., 1998, 1999).

* Many patients are never even assessed for both PTSD and substance abuse (Fullilove et al., 1993; Kofoed et al., 1993). It is common for patients to report multiple substance abuse treatments during which they were never asked about trauma, never informed that they met the diagnosis of PTSD, and never told that PTSD is a treatable disorder for which specific treatments exist. Similarly, some mental health clinicians do not routinely assess for substance abuse.

* It can be difficult to predict patients' course of recovery. Paradoxically, both abstinence and continued use of substances may make PTSD symptoms either better or worse, depending on the patient (Brown et al., 1998; Najavits, Shaw, & Weiss, 1996b).

* Treatment can be effective, but is often difficult and may be marked by unstable treatment alliances, multiple crises, erratic attendance, and relapse to substance use (Brady et al., 1994; Brown, Stout, & Mueller, 1996; Root, 1989; Triffleman, 1998).

* Both in the culture at large and among clinicians, views of patients with substance abuse and/or PTSD may be quite negative. Countertransference reactions are common (Herman, 1992; Imhof, 1991; Imhof, Hirsch, & Terenzi, 1983; Najavits et al., 1995). Patients are sometimes perceived as "crazy," "lazy," or "bad," both by others and by themselves.

* Treatments that are effective for PTSD or substance abuse separately may not be advisable when the two disorders occur together. For example, PTSD treatments such as benzodiazepines or exposure therapy may not be indicated if a patient is addicted to substances; substance abuse treatment such as twelve-step groups may not work when a patient has PTSD (Ruzek et al., 1998; Satel, Becker, & Dan, 1993; Solomon, Gerrity, & Muff, 1992).

* Patients with this dual diagnosis may have intensive case management needs, which may go beyond the training of some clinicians and sometimes lead to "burnout" (Najavits et al., 1996b).

* The need for cross-training is common: The cultures, assumptions, and treatments for substance abuse and PTSD can be quite different, and most therapists do not have equal expertise in both (Evans & Sullivan, 1995; Najavits, 2000; Najavits et al., 1996c). Substance abuse counselors are not typically trained to work on severe mental health problems, and thus PTSD may be ignored or misunderstood. Similarly, most mental health therapists are not trained to work on substance abuse.

More on the Relationship between PTSD and Substance Abuse

The key points above summarize a growing body of research that has emerged primarily over the past decade, and is still undergoing continued validation. Although a full discussion of this work is beyond the scope of this book, further materials are recommended at the end of this book (see the entries marked by an asterisk in the References list). In addition, one patient's experience of PTSD and substance abuse is provided at the end of this chapter to illustrate the experience of this dual diagnosis.

THIS TREATMENT

This book describes a psychotherapy treatment for PTSD and substance abuse comprised of 25 topics. It is the first treatment for PTSD and substance abuse with published outcome results (Najavits et al., 1997, 1998e). It offers a variety of features designed to be maximally helpful to clinicians on the front lines of treatment, where time is short, the demands are great, and the need for something that works is imperative.

The creative contribution that this treatment, it is hoped, provides is its adaptation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to this population. The goal was to mold a therapy that would best fit patients' needs by listening to them very closely in the context of treating them, reading available literature, and conducting empirical research on the treatment.

The treatment's 25 topics are evenly divided among cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal domains, with each addressing a safe coping skill relevant to both disorders. Each topic is designed to be independent of the others, thus allowing maximum flexibility for patients and therapists to choose the order of topics.

The treatment can be conducted on either a group or an individual basis, both of which have evidenced positive outcomes thus far in studies (Hien & Litt, 1999; Najavits, 1996, 1998; Zlotnick, 1999). It has also been applied in clinical settings to a wide variety of patients (e.g., women, men, adults, adolescents, prisoners, war veterans, outpatients, inpatients, inner-city patients, suburban patients, minorities). Data thus far indicate positive satisfaction with the treatment in several of these subpopulations, but outcome results are still being collected. (See Chapter 2 for more on using the treatment in different treatment contexts.)

Below, the principles of the treatment are described, followed by additional key features, what is not part of the treatment, how it was developed, its empirical testing, and how it differs from other treatments.

PRINCIPLES OF SEEKING SAFETY

This treatment is based on five central ideas: (1) safety as the priority of this first-stage treatment; (2) integrated treatment of PTSD and substance abuse; (3) a focus on ideals; (4) four content areas: cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, and case management; and (5) attention to therapist processes. These five principles are described below, followed by additional features of the treatment and a summary of what is not part of the treatment.

Safety as the Goal of This First-Stage Treatment

The title of this book, Seeking Safety, expresses the basic philosophy of the treatment. That is, when a person has both active substance abuse and PTSD, the most urgent clinical need is to establish safety. "Safety" is an umbrella term that signifies various elements: discontinuing substance use, reducing suicidality, minimizing exposure to HIV risk, letting go of dangerous relationships (such as domestic abuse and drug-using "friends"), gaining control over extreme symptoms (such as dissociation), and stopping self-harm behaviors (such as cutting). Many of these are self-destructive behaviors that reenact trauma, particularly for victims of childhood abuse, who represent a large segment of people with this dual diagnosis (Najavits et al., 1997). Even though the trauma may have occurred long ago, patients treat themselves in ways that repeat it, ignoring their needs and perpetuating pain (albeit sometimes in the guise of trying to satisfy short-term impulses). These patients have typically been abused and are now abusing themselves; this is not coincidence, but rather represents a meaningful connection between their disorders. "Seeking safety" refers to helping patients free themselves from such negative behaviors and, in so doing, to move toward freeing themselves from trauma at a deep emotional level.

Just as violations of safety are life-destroying, the means of establishing safety are life-enhancing: learning to ask for help from safe people, utilizing community resources, exploring "recovery thinking," taking good care of one's body, rehearsing honesty and compassion, increasing self-nurturing activities, and so on. It is these skills that this treatment attempts to teach.

The treatment thus fits what has been described as first-stage therapy for each of the disorders. Experts within the PTSD and substance abuse fields have independently described an extremely similar first stage of treatment.

Continues...


Excerpted from Seeking Safety by Lisa M. Najavits Copyright © 2002 by The Guilford Press. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Conducting the Treatment
Treatment Topics
Introduction to Treatment/Case Management
Safety
PTSD: Taking Back Your Power
Detaching from Emotional Pain (Grounding)
When Substances Control You
Asking for Help
Taking Good Care of Yourself
Compassion
Red and Green Flags
Honesty
Recovery Thinking
Integrating the Split Self
Commitment
Creating Meaning
Community Resources
Setting Boundaries in Relationships
Discovery
Getting Others to Support Your Recovery
Coping with Triggers
Respecting Your Time
Healthy Relationships
Self-Nurturing
Healing from Anger
Life Choices Game (Review)
Termination

Interviews

All clinicians treating clients with trauma and substance abuse problems; graduate students and trainees in clinical psychology, psychiatry, social work, addictions counseling, and related disciplines. Serves as a text in graduate-level courses and clinical practica.

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