New therapy offer for addicted women

Therapy of addicted women considering traumatic childhood experiences

08/12/2014

Addictions are often associated with traumatic childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect. In a recent study, researchers from the Hannover Medical School (MHH), together with scientists from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), investigate this connection between addiction and traumatic childhood experiences.

„Addiction problems are among the most common consequences of early violence and neglect“, reports the MHH. So have „About half of all individuals in addiction treatment experienced early mistreatment or neglect.“ In return, about one-third of all individuals who start trauma therapy have addiction problems. The scientists at MHH and UKE have therefore started a study to prove this, „that trauma therapy is particularly successful in the treatment of addiction problems.“ In the dependent outpatient clinic of the MHH, a special therapy offer is offered for this purpose for women with addiction problems and past traumatic or particularly stressful experiences. The study is part of the nationwide CANSAS project on child abuse and substance dependence. The research project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with 1.8 million euros.

Addictive substance for the suppression of traumatic experiences
According to the information provided by the MHH „Women who consume alcohol, drugs or other addictive substances often have made very distressing traumatic experiences.“ The addictive substances were used almost like medicines, in order to cope with the consequences of the experiences. Consequently „develop side effectsthis addictive substance, and the problems that should actually be tackled, are further compounded“, reports the MHH. The offered special group therapies therefore consider the addiction as well as the trauma consequences. It is not the processing of traumatic experiences the goal, „but a psychological stabilization of the participants and their current life situation“, so the message of the Hannover Medical School.

Group therapy sessions in Hannover
According to the researchers, the therapy is specific „to women with addiction problems who have had traumatic or particularly distressing experiences.“ Each five to six participants would meet once a week in the addiction ambulance of the MHH for a group therapy session. „The offer is free of charge and can be used as a supplement to an already ongoing therapy“, so the message of the MHH. (Fp)