Evaluating Signs of Safety: A Deaf-Accessible Therapy Toolkit for AUD and Trauma
University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Summary
The U.S. Deaf community - a group of more than one million Americans who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) - experiences nearly triple the rate of lifetime problem drinking and twice the rate of trauma exposure compared to the general population. Although there are several treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in hearing populations, none have been developed for or tested with Deaf clients. To address these barriers, the study team developed Signs of Safety, a Deaf-accessible therapy toolkit for treating AUD and PTSD. Their aims are to conduct a nationwide, virtual clinical trial to compare (1) Signs of Safety with (2) treatment as usual and (3) a no treatment control, to collect data on clinical outcomes, and to explore potential mediators and moderators of outcome.
Description
In partnership with Deaf-owned agency National Deaf Therapy, the study team will conduct the first-ever full-scale psychotherapy trial conducted in the Deaf community - "Evaluating Signs of Safety: A Deaf-Accessible Therapy Toolkit for AUD and Trauma." The U.S. Deaf community - more than one million Americans who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) - experiences nearly triple the rate of lifetime problem drinking compared to the general population (33.0% vs. 12.3%) and twice the rate of trauma exposure. Among Deaf people in treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), 74% report lifeti…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Self-identification as Deaf or hard-of-hearing * Proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) * Age 18 years or older * Access to videoconferencing technology for informed consent and, if applicable, study therapy sessions * Access to online survey technology for study assessments * "Problematic alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol-related problems" on the AUD Identification Test (AUDIT), a 10-item screening measure developed by the World Health Organization that demonstrates good sensitivity and specificity in many populations (past-month referent time pe…
Interventions
- BehavioralSeeking Safety + Signs of Safety toolkit
Signs of Safety is a Deaf-accessible toolkit to be used with the Seeking Safety treatment protocol. Seeking Safety is a manualized, non-exposure-based, cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma and addiction.
- BehavioralTreatment as usual
NDT therapists come from a wide variety of training backgrounds, but each works with their clients to build on their existing strengths and provide support as clients develop new strategies and behaviors for overcoming adversity.
Location
- University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcester, Massachusetts