An investigation of trauma-centered inpatient treatment for adult survivors of abuse

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine a comprehensive inpatient treatment program designed for adult survivors of childhood abuse with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: One hundred and thirty-two formerly abused individuals completed clinician-administered and self-administered measures of PTSD symptomatology at admission and discharge. All participants experienced a range of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse as children prior to the age of 17. Approximately one-third of these individuals also completed measures at 3-months postdischarge and 1-year postdischarge. Data were collected using a clinician-administered PTSD measure and self-administered PTSD measure at admission and discharge. On admission, all participants met criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. Results: Analyses revealed that the program was effective in reducing symptoms from admission to discharge. Additionally, treatment gains were maintained at 1-year postdischarge. Conclusion: The findings of this investigation suggest that the current intensive inpatient group treatment program appears to reduce PTSD symptoms effectively for a sample of adult survivors of abuse.