The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64851

Lisa A. Melchior, PhD¹, Vivian B. Brown, PhD², G. J. Huba, PhD¹, and A. T. Panter, PhD³. (1) The Measurement Group, 5811A Uplander Way, Culver City, CA 90230, 310-216-1051, lmelchior@TheMeasurementGroup.com, (2) PROTOTYPES, 5601 West Slauson Avenue, Suite 200, Culver City, CA 90230, (3) Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, L. L. Thurstone Psychometric Laboratory, CB#3270, Davie Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270

Trauma and trauma-related disorders (e.g., PTSD) are important clinical issues for persons seeking substance abuse treatment. Although integrating treatment for substance abuse and trauma-related issues is critical, trauma is often not assessed in this context; consequently, trauma may be under-diagnosed and not addressed clinically when the individual could most benefit from therapeutic intervention. As an initial examination of the relationship between addiction severity and trauma history, data from 2,697 individuals were studied as part of an evaluation of services provided at a community assessment center for substance abuse and mental health services in Los Angeles County. The sample was 62.4 percent male and 37.6 percent female; 60.1 percent Latino/Hispanic, 24.2 percent Caucasian, 11.2 percent African American, 1.9 percent Native American, 1.6 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, and less than one percent of unknown racial/ethnic background. Problem severity was measured using the Addiction Severity Index 5th Edition (McLellan et al., 1992), which also included item-level indicators of a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Depending on the type of referral into the assessment center (e.g., social services, criminal justice, or community walk-in), rates of reported trauma history (lifetime) ranged from 14% to 59% of the males and 51% to 86% of the females. Significant associations were found between trauma history and ASI problem severity measures related to Psychiatric, Family-Social, and Medical functioning. Abuse history and Alcohol and Drug Problem Severity measures were related to a lesser extent. Implications for the assessment of trauma-related issues within substance abuse services will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify factors of addiction severity that demonstrate significant associations with trauma history
• 2. Recognize the importance of assessing for trauma within the context of substance abuse treatment services
• 3. Describe how different ways of measuring problem severity and trauma history may show different patterns of their inter-relationships

Keywords: Substance Abuse Assessment, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.