Citation

Crisanti AS, Murray-Krezan C, Reno J, Killough C. Community Ment. Health J. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, MSC 09 5030, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10597-019-00443-3

PMID

31338716

Abstract

This randomized controlled non-inferiority trial explored the effectiveness of Seeking Safety (SS) delivered by peer providers compared to its delivery by licensed behavioral health clinicians. The study enrolled 291 adults with PTSD and/or substance use disorders. Data were collected at 3 and 6-months post start of treatment. With respect to long-term outcomes, at 6 months PTSD symptoms decreased by 5.1 points [95% CI (- 9.0, - 1.1)] and by 4.9 points [95% CI (- 8.6, - 1.1)] and coping skills increased by 5.5 points [95% CI (0.4, 10.6)] and by 5.6 points [95% CI (0.8, 10.4)], in the peer- and clinician-led groups, respectively. This study demonstrated non-inferiority of peer-delivered SS compared to clinician-delivered SS for reducing PTSD symptoms and similar outcomes for both groups with respect to coping skills. A confirmatory study on the effectiveness of peer-delivered trauma-specific services is warranted, especially given the potential for increasing access to such treatment in underserved rural communities.

Language: en

Keywords

Peer-providers; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Randomized controlled trial; Seeking safety; Trauma-specific treatment