Comparing group Cognitive Processing Therapy and a self-help workbook for drug use, trauma symptoms, and crime after prison

Addiction and trauma exposure are common among the 5.5 million people (1 in 47 adults) in the U.S. who are in prison or under supervision. About 85% of people in prison have a substance use disorder or are there for a drug-related crime, and many have experienced serious trauma before being incarcerated. Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are often a result of trauma and are linked to more severe drug use, higher rates of relapse, and increased crime. PTSS and substance use disorder (SUD) each raise the chances of new arrests for people who are justice-involved, showing that addressing trauma and addiction could help reduce repeat offenses and the costs of incarceration. However, treatments for PTSS are rarely available in prisons, and there is little research on whether providing therapy for PTSS in prison can lower drug use, PTSS, or crime after release.

The goal of this clinical trial is to see if trauma-focused group therapy (CPT) provided while in prison, can help people after release from prison. The therapy has been adapted for use in prisons (CPT-CJ) and will be compared to trauma focused therapy delivered via a self-help workbook

This study will:

• test whether a trauma-focused group therapy (CPT-CJ) can reduce post-incarceration drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, and drug-related crime, compared to trauma-focused self-help,
• evaluate a strategy called implementation facilitation, which helps support the use of this therapy in prisons, and
• measure the cost of the therapies and support strategies to help plan for future expansion.

Incarcerated participants (N = 640; 50% female) will be enrolled from ~10 prisons in ~5 states, ensuring variability in population and setting characteristics. They will:

• take surveys and answer questions up to 5 times (before starting treatment, right after getting treatment, right before leaving prison, 3 months after leaving prison and 6 months after leaving prison)
• complete CPT group therapy or self-help therapy
• provide urine samples 3 months and 6 months after leaving prison

Prison stakeholders (e.g., prison staff, prison leadership, governmental officials; N = ~15 per site) who will be purposively sampled based on their role in CPT-CJ implementation will also participate in some surveys.