Addiction in Maternity: Prevalence of Mental Illness,Substance Use,and Trauma |
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Authors: | Isabelle A. Linden Iris Torchalla Michael Krausz |
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Affiliation: | 1. Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences , St. Paul's Hospital , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada ilinden@cheos.ubc.ca;3. Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences , St. Paul's Hospital , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada;4. Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences , St. Paul's Hospital;5. and Department of Psychiatry, the University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada |
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Abstract: | Women living in vulnerable neighborhoods experience higher rates of poverty, homelessness, psychiatric issues, illicit substance use, rates of HIV, and a lowered life expectancy. The aim of the study was to further explore the history of mental illness and trauma in a sample of women (N?=?31) who had recently given birth and had a substance use problem while pregnant. We investigated sociodemographic characteristics, history of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), rates of substance use and dependence, and psychiatric symptoms. Childhood and adult traumatic experiences were found in the majority of the sample, and one-third presented with suspected PTSD diagnosis at the time of the interview. Women-centered services are in great demand, as well as trauma informed care, and further research on appropriate treatment for substance using, traumatized, women with a mental illness. |
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Keywords: | homelessness pregnancy PTSD Vancouver Downtown Eastside vulnerable women |
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