Barriers to delivering trauma‐focused interventions for people with psychosis and post‐traumatic stress disorder: A qualitative study of health care professionals’ views

Summary & key facts

This study asked health care professionals about what gets in the way of giving trauma-focused therapy to people who also have psychosis and post-traumatic stress. Staff said three things matter if services want to offer these treatments more: make talking about trauma a routine and joined-up part of care, set up clear processes and pathways and an organizational culture that help people reach treatment, and provide training so clinicians feel confident and able to do the work. These findings describe what professionals think would help; they do not prove that changing these things will improve patient outcomes.

Key facts:

• The study collected health care professionals' views about delivering trauma-focused interventions for people with psychosis and post-traumatic stress.
• Professionals said trauma should be discussed in a clear and consistent way across services so it is part of normal clinical conversations.
• Staff identified service processes, referral pathways, and the organization's culture as important for making treatment easier to access.
• Clinicians reported a need for training that focuses on building their confidence and practical skills to deliver trauma-focused therapy.
• The findings reflect professionals' opinions and experiences. They do not directly measure whether patients get better when services change these things.

Abstract

Delivery of trauma-focused interventions within routine clinical practice may be supported by attention to the coherent integration of discussion of trauma into the clinical discourse of services; the processes, pathways, and organizational culture that facilitate access to treatment; and training that targets clinician confidence and skills.

Topics

Child Abuse and Trauma Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research Psychiatric care and mental health services

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Clinical psychology Economic growth Economics Environmental health Health care Medicine Mental health Nursing Population Psychiatry Psychological intervention Psychological trauma Psychology Psychotherapist Qualitative research Social science Sociology Traumatic stress

Conditions & symptoms

PTSD