Open AccessTreating PTSD in pregnant and postpartum rural women with substance use disorders.
Author(s) -
Emily R. Dworkin,
Laura Zambrano-Vazquez,
Sarah Cunningham,
Samantha L. Pittenger,
Julie A. Schumacher,
Paul R. Stasiewicz,
Scott F. Coffey
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
rural mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2163-8969
pISSN - 1935-942X
DOI - 10.1037/rmh0000057
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , psychiatry , substance use , posttraumatic stress , population , medicine , substance abuse , public health , psychology , environmental health , nursing , paleontology , biology
The co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder (PTSD-SUD) can pose significant problems for rural pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) and the well-being of their children. Although effective treatments exist, PPW experience limitations in their ability to access and engage in treatment that may be compounded by various aspects of rural settings, so providers must be attentive to these barriers in order to address this pressing public health need. In addition, as part of increasing rural access to care, it is important to consider the costs and benefits to PPW of selecting exposure-based techniques (e.g., prolonged exposure) to disseminate. The current article discusses the treatment of PTSD-SUD in rural PPW in the context of the authors' experiences providing an exposure-based cognitive behavioral treatment for PTSD in this population. Barriers to treatment access and engagement are discussed and recommendations are provided.