Thematic Analysis of Written Exposures in an Integrated Intervention for PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder Following Recent Sexual Assault
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22420235 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tilstra-Ferrell Emily L (0000-0003-3714-8263, Medical University of South Carolina, corresponding author), Selime R Salim (0000-0003-3840-4943, Stanford University), Alexandra N Brockdorf (0000-0002-9687-5025, Medical University of South Carolina), Stephanie Amaya (0000-0003-1588-7209, Medical University of South Carolina), Sudie E Back (0000-0002-7683-8737, Medical University of South Carolina), Christine K Hahn (0000-0002-5877-5162, Medical University of South Carolina) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-25 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1053-8712 • E-ISSN: 1547-0679 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10538712.2026.2673338 |
| PMID | 42333598 |
| OpenAlex | W7165640030 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 42 |
Sexual assault (SA) is alarmingly prevalent and is associated with increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Exposure-based treatments are a first-line treatment for PTSD and have potential for implementation early after trauma. However, scarce research has been conducted on the application of exposure following recent SA among people with PTSD symptoms and AUD, which is critical to inform the development of effective and tailored early interventions for this population. The present study addressed this gap by using thematic analysis to examine content included in written exposure narratives among 10 adults with recent SA (i.e., in the past 3 months) who received a five-session telehealth-delivered integrated intervention: Skills Training and Exposure for PTSD and Substance Misuse (STEPS). STEPS integrates Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD with cognitive-behavioral skills for AUD to address both concerns simultaneously. Participants demonstrated current symptoms of PTSD and met criteria for AUD. Nineteen themes were identified and organized under five categories: Sensory and Memory Processing, Description of Emotions, Description of Cognitions, Individual-Social Impact, and Reactions to Writing. Findings from this study demonstrate that recent SA survivors with AUD can engage in early exposure-based interventions, such as STEPS, with high protocol adherence (e.g. including sensory details, labeling emotions, expressing cognitions). Results also suggest that interpersonal and sociocultural factors may be important for survivors to process and make meaning of after recent SA.
Alcohol use disorder · Injury prevention · Interpersonal communication · Poison control · Psychological intervention · Suicide prevention · Thematic analysis · Child Abuse and Trauma · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Mental Health via Writing · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
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Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence by sexual orientation, United States.
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Project harmony
Longitudinal change in self-reported peritraumatic dissociation during and after a course of posttraumatic stress disorder treatment
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Using thematic analysis in psychology
Emotional processing of fear
| Highly cited | No |
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