Citation

Walsh K, Gilmore AK, Frazier P, Ledray L, Acierno RE, Ruggiero KJ, Kilpatrick DG, Resnick HS. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2017; 41(12): 2163-2172.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/acer.13505

PMID

28940320

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether a brief video intervention (Prevention of Postrape Stress; PPRS) delivered in the emergency department to recent sexual assault (SA) victims reduced alcohol and marijuana use at three points over the course of a six-month follow-up compared to treatment as usual (TAU) and an active control condition (Pleasant Imagery and Relaxation Information; PIRI). Prior assault history, minority status, and pre-SA substance use also were examined as moderators of intervention efficacy.

METHODS: Women age 15 and older (N = 154) who participated in a post-SA medical forensic exam were randomly assigned to watch the PPRS video (n=54), the PIRI video (n=48), or receive TAU (n=52) and completed at least one follow-up assessment targeted at 1.5 (T1), 3 (T2), or 6 (T3) months following the exam.

RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that, relative to TAU, PPRS was associated with less frequent alcohol use at 6 months post-SA among women reporting pre-SA binge drinking and minority women. Relative to TAU, PPRS also was associated with fewer days of marijuana use at T1 among those who did not report pre-SA marijuana use and prior SA.

FINDINGS for pre-SA marijuana use were maintained at T3; however, findings for prior SA shifted such that PPRS was associated with fewer days of marijuana use at T3 for women with a prior SA.

CONCLUSIONS: PPRS may be effective at reducing substance use for some recent SA victims, including those with a prior SA history, a prior substance use history, and minority women. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

RCT; alcohol; brief intervention; marijuana; sexual assault