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Abstract
Effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been the focus of research studies for many years, with exposure therapy consistently emerging as the leading treatment for this disorder. However, for a variety of reasons most studies exclude individuals suffering from concurrent substance use disorders. In recent years, this omission has been addressed, and the belief that substance dependent individuals cannot benefit from trauma treatment until they are free from substances is losing favor. Early studies have demonstrated that prolonged exposure therapy can be effective for persons suffering from both disorders. The current case study seeks to provide information on the length of time and type of symptom change in an individual suffering from comorbid PTSD-substance abuse (PTSD-SA). Therefore, prolonged exposure was utilized to treat PTSD in an active abuser of both alcohol and marijuana. Pre- and post-treatment assessments demonstrate dramatic reductions in PTSD symptoms, general anxiety, and depression despite continued substance use, with the individual no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD following eight weeks of treatment. For this particular client, prolonged exposure was effective in treating the PTSD. It is hypothesized that by decreasing the presence of trauma symptoms and depression, the individual can more effectively address the symptoms associated with active substance use, as well as learn healthier coping skills for when they later experience withdrawal symptoms from substances.