false
OasisLMS
zh-CN,en,fr,de,ja,es
Catalog
35th AM (2025) - Poster Session
Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women R ...
Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women Receiving Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Back to course
Pdf Summary
This systematic review examines behavioral interventions targeting PTSD in women receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Women on MOUD disproportionately experience PTSD, but research addressing their specific treatment needs is limited. The review aimed to evaluate trauma-focused behavioral therapies—particularly prolonged exposure (PE) and integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT)—in predominantly female samples with comorbid PTSD and OUD.<br /><br />Following PRISMA guidelines, four randomized controlled trials (total N=30–126, ≥60% women) were identified from PubMed, Ovid, PsycINFO, and Embase databases up to April 2025. These trials evaluated PE alone, PE combined with financial incentives, and ICBT alongside methadone or buprenorphine treatment. Findings showed that PE, especially when coupled with financial incentives, significantly improved therapy attendance, completion rates, and clinician-rated PTSD remission without worsening opioid use. Results on self-reported PTSD symptoms were mixed. ICBT integrated with MOUD demonstrated potential for reducing positive drug screens, indicating improved substance use outcomes.<br /><br />Despite promising findings, the reviewed studies had limitations including small sample sizes, performance bias due to the infeasibility of blinding, and overall low certainty of evidence. Both PE and ICBT appear feasible through in-person and telehealth modalities, suggesting flexibility in delivery approaches.<br /><br />The review concludes that trauma-focused therapies—particularly PE with contingency management (financial incentives)—may effectively reduce PTSD symptoms and enhance treatment engagement among women on MOUD. ICBT may additionally benefit substance use outcomes. However, there is a critical need for larger, gender-responsive, methodologically rigorous trials employing standardized outcomes to confirm these preliminary findings and inform clinical practice. Implementing behavioral treatments alongside MOUD with attention to gender and trauma sensitivity holds promise for improving dual-diagnosis treatment in this vulnerable population.
Keywords
PTSD
opioid use disorder
women
medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)
behavioral interventions
prolonged exposure therapy
integrated cognitive behavioral therapy
financial incentives
trauma-focused therapies
substance use outcomes
×