Prolonged Exposure for Treating PTSD among Female Methadone Patients Who Were Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Israel

The aims of this pilot study were: (a) to test the feasibility of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy conducted by a social worker staff on female patients in methadone program clinics who were survivors of child sexual abuse or rape and (b) to examine preliminary outcomes of PE on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and illicit drug use at pre- and posttreatment, and up to 12-month follow-ups. 

Twelve female methadone patients who were survivors of child sexual abuse or rape diagnosed with PTSD were enrolled in 13-19 weekly individual PE sessions. Assessments were conducted at pre-, mid-, and posttreatment, as well as at 3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups. The treatment outcomes measures included PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and illicit drug use. Ten of the 12 study patients completed treatment. PTSD and depressive symptoms showed significant reduction. No relapse to illicit drug use was detected. 

These preliminary results suggest that PE may be delivered by methadone social workers with successful outcomes. Further research should test the efficacy of PE among methadone patients in a randomized control trial with standard care as the control condition.

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By: Schiff M1, Nacasch N2, Levit S1, Katz N3, Foa EB4.

• 1a Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University , Jerusalem , Israel.
• 2b Brill Mental Health Center , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
• 3c Association for Public Health, Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs in Ashdod , Ashdod , Israel.
• 4d Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA), School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.  

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