Reducing Alcohol Use and Sexual Dysfunction in Survivors of Sexual Trauma

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Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop and evaluate the preliminary efficacy of an intervention to address alcohol use, sexual distress, and sexual assault risk among college women with a history of sexual victimization. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1) what is the feasibility of the recruitment method, research design, interventionist training methods, and delivery of the intervention; 2) does the intervention, relatively to control, the 2- and 4-month follow-up produces reductions in the quantity/frequency of alcohol use and heavy drinking, sexual distress, and sex-related drinking motives, and sexual revictimization. Participants will engage in both individual and group based intervention for alcohol use, sexual distress, and sexual assault risk. Follow-up assessments are completed at 2- and 4-months following program completion. The intervention is compared to a wait list control group who will have the opportunity to complete the program after completing the 4-month follow up.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Alcohol Use, Unspecified Sexual Dysfunction Sexual Assault

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 24 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. be between the ages of 18 and 24; 2. speak and comprehend English; 3. report a history of attempted or completed penetrative or non-penetrative acts of sexual victimization (i.e., oral, vaginal, anal) since age 14 via incapacitation, coercion, or force; 4. report exceeding the national recommended limits for daily drinking (4 or more for women) on one or more occasions in the past 6 months; 5. report past year sexual activity; 6. exceed the clinical cut point on the Female Sexual Functioning Index (score of 28.1 or lower) or exceed the cut point for the 13-item Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (score of 11 or higher) Exclusion Criteria: 1. suicide risk on items from the Beck Depression Inventory; 2. screen positive on the Alcohol Use Withdrawal Checklist.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Alcohol Use

The number of past month drinking days (Minmum = 0, Maximum = 30), average drinks per drinking day (Minmum = 0, Maximum = unspecificed), number of heavy drinking days (Minimum = 0, Maximum = 30), assessed via the Time Line Follow Back, with greater scores meaning worse outcomes.

Time frame: Change from baseline alcohol use at 4 months.

Sexual Distress

Assessed via the Female Sexual Dysfunction Index, Minimum = 2, Maximum = 36 with higher scores meaning worse outcomes, and the Female Sexual Distress Scale, Minimum = 0, Maximum = 52 with lower scores meaning worse outcomes.

Time frame: Change from overall levels of sexual dysfunction at 4 months.

Sexual Victimization

Assessed via the Sexual Experiences Survey. Scored based on frequency and severity, Minumum = 0, Maximum = 63, higher scores means worse outcomes.

Time frame: Reductions in severity and frequency of victimization in comparison to control at 4 months.

Secondary Outcomes

Sex-Related Drinking Expectancies

Assessed via the Sex Related Alcohol Expectancies, Minimum = 14, Maximum = 70

Time frame: Change in sexual related drinking expectancies at 4 months.