Lindsey Gonzalez
Research Mentor: Peter Grau
Mentor Department: Psychiatry, Medicine
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 2 (10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 89
Abstract
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can arise after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. This condition heavily impacts individuals, especially those from minoritized populations who seek treatment in community health centers. This project focuses on developing and testing a stepped care intervention that combines talk therapies with digital tools. These digital tools will include daily symptom monitoring of PTSD and substance use, as well as text messages designed to increase patient engagement. The goal of this project is to provide accessible PTSD and substance use care to minoritized patients (majority Spanish-speaking) in under-resourced settings. To expand access to effective treatment for PTSD and substance use, participants will receive one or more evidence-based talk therapies over the course of 10 weeks. Participants will be assigned to one of the first stage interventions (Written Exposure Therapy [WET] or Clinician-Supported PTSD Coach App) for a total of five weekly sessions. After session five, they will be assigned to either continue with their first stage treatment or step up to Primary Care Treatment Integrating Motivation and Exposure Treatment (PC-TIME). Additionally, all participants will complete a daily symptom monitoring check-in to track PTSD symptom severity and substance use via Qualtrics surveys. Therapists will receive weekly summaries of daily symptom scores and will incorporate this information into brief weekly check-ins at the beginning of each session. Through creating accessible stepped care intervention systems, we aim to increase patients’ ability to access treatment, manage chronic conditions, and reduce adverse outcomes (e.g., overdose and suicide), ultimately ensuring health equity.
