Post Taumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Australian heroin users
NDARC Staff
Maree Teesson, Shane Darke, Joanne Ross, Katherine Mills, Anna Williamson, Alys Havard, and Marian Shanahan
Aims
- to describe the prevalence and correlates of PTSD among treatment seeking heroin users and a sample of heroin users not in treatment
- to examine the impact of PTSD on treatment outcomes for heroin dependence (i.e., substance use, physical and mental health, health service utilization) 3, 12 and 24 months post treatment entrance
- to examine the impact of treatment for heroin dependence on PTSD 24 months post treatment entrance
Design and Method
The study utilized data collected for the NSW component of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Five hundred and thirty five heroin users were recruited on entry to treatment through methadone/ buprenorphine maintenance, detoxification and residential rehabilitation services. An additional 80 heroin users not currently in treatment were also recruited. Using a structured questionnaire, participants were interviewed on entry into treatment for heroin dependence and followed up again at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months post treatment entry.
Benefits
Output
Mills, K., Teesson, M., Ross, J., Darke, S., & Shanahan, M. (2005). Costs and outcomes of opiate treatment associated with post traumatic stress disorder. Psychiatric Services 56, 940-945.
Mills, K., Lynskey, M., Teesson, M., Ross, J., & Darke, S. (2005). Post traumatic stress disorder among people with heroin dependence in the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS): Prevalence and correlates. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 77, 243-249.
Presentations include the following:
Mills, K. (2005). The impact of post traumatic stress disorder on 2 year treatment outcomes for heroin dependence. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Annual Symposium, Sydney.
Mills, K. (2005). The impact of post traumatic stress disorder on 2 year treatment outcomes for heroin dependence. Conference of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Orlando, Florida.
Mills K. (2004). The impact of post traumatic stress disorder on 12 month treatment outcomes for heroin dependence. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Annual Symposium, Sydney.
Mills K. (2004). Post traumatic stress disorder among people with heroin dependence. Invited seminar to Wentworth Area Health Service Dual Diagnosis Seminar Series. Nepean Hospital, Penrith.
Mills K. (2003). The impact of post traumatic stress disorder on short term treatment outcomes for heroin dependence. Conference of the Australasian Professional Society of Alcohol and Other Drugs, Brisbane.
Mills K. (2002). Post traumatic stress disorder among people with heroin dependence. Conference of the Australasian Professional Society of Alcohol and Other Drugs, Adelaide.
Funding
National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and Department of Human Services Victoria