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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Dec;41(12):2163-2172.
doi: 10.1111/acer.13505. Epub 2017 Oct 25.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Examining the Effect of Video-Based Prevention of Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Recent Sexual Assault Victims

Kate Walsh  1 , Amanda K Gilmore  2 , Patricia Frazier  3 , Linda Ledray  4 , Ron Acierno  5 , Kenneth J Ruggiero  5 , Dean G Kilpatrick  2 , Heidi S Resnick  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Randomized Clinical Trial Examining the Effect of Video-Based Prevention of Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Recent Sexual Assault Victims

Kate Walsh et al. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: This study examined whether a brief video intervention (Prevention of Post-Rape Stress [PPRS]) delivered in the emergency department to recent sexual assault (SA) victims reduced alcohol and marijuana use at 3 points over the course of a 6-month follow-up compared to treatment as usual (TAU) and an active control condition (Pleasant Imagery and Relaxation Instruction [PIRI]). Prior assault history, minority status, and pre-SA substance use also were examined as moderators of intervention efficacy.

Methods: Women aged 15 and older (N = 154) who participated in a post-SA medical forensic examination were randomly assigned to watch the PPRS video (n = 54) or the PIRI video (n = 48) or receive TAU (n = 52) and completed at least 1 follow-up assessment targeted at 1.5 (T1), 3 (T2), or 6 (T3) months following the examination.

Results: Regression analyses revealed that, relative to TAU, PPRS was associated with less frequent alcohol use at 6 months post-SA among women reporting pre-SA binge drinking and minority women. Relative to TAU, PPRS also was associated with fewer days of marijuana use at T1 among those who did not report pre-SA marijuana use and prior SA. Findings for pre-SA marijuana use were maintained at T3; however, findings for prior SA shifted such that PPRS was associated with fewer days of marijuana use at T3 for women with a prior SA.

Conclusions: PPRS may be effective at reducing substance use for some recent SA victims, including those with a prior SA history, a prior substance use history, and minority women.

Keywords: RCT; Alcohol; Brief Intervention; Marijuana; Sexual Assault.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant Flow Diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Panel A. Interaction between past year binge drinking and PPRS v PIRI on T3 alcohol use Panel B. Interaction between past-year binge drinking and PPRS v TAU on T3 alcohol use Panel C. Interaction between minority status and PPRS v TAU on T3 alcohol use
Figure 3
Figure 3
Panel A. Interaction between prior sexual assault and PIRI v PPRS on Days of Marijuana Use at T1. Panel B. Interaction between past-year marijuana use and PIRI v PPRS on Days of Marijuana Use at T1. Panel C. Panel B. Interaction between past-year marijuana use and TAU v PPRS on Days of Marijuana Use at T1.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Interaction between prior sexual assault and PIRI v PPRS on Days of Marijuana Use at T3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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