Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma

• NCJ Number: 221043
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 37-58
• Author(s): Erin R. Kraftcheck; Robert T. Muller; David C. Wright
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined differences in depression symptoms among 123 adult survivors of childhood abuse who had completed a 6-week inpatient treatment program for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract

The overall finding was that group treatment was effective in lowering depression, which is supported by previous research. The study also provides support for the use of inpatient settings in treating adult survivors of childhood abuse. An unanticipated finding was that depression and hopelessness symptoms increased over the first 3 months after discharge. Followup data after 1 year from discharge were more promising, however. The treatment gains measured at program discharge were evident for the 58 individuals who completed the depression measure at admission, discharge, and 1 year after discharge. Depression scores at 1 year after discharge were significantly lower than admission scores. This finding is particularly encouraging since the majority of program participants had been experiencing their level of symptomatology for many years, after having failed to experience relief from other forms of treatment. The Program for Traumatic Stress Recovery merges the concepts of the trauma model (Bloom, 1997) with that of the therapeutic community. A multidisciplinary treatment team is used for assessment and treatment. In the first week, participants are introduced to the program's core concepts and are evaluated for their ability to engage in group process, their level of safety, and their capacity to tolerate interventions from others. During the treatment phase, participants work on established goals and receive feedback from others regarding unhealthy behavior patterns. In this phase, participants attend daily psychoeducational groups and daily process groups. Several therapy groups are offered in the program. Assessments at admission, discharge, 3 months, and 1 year were conducted with the MCMI-II, the Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. 4 figures and 40 references