Mitigating PTSD-CUD After Sexual Assault

Brief cognitive behavioral intervention completed in the 3 weeks post-assault delivered via Internet on participants' smartphones targeting anxiety sensitivity, or fear of anxious arousal. Patients learn psychoeducation regarding the nature of stress, cognitive retraining to reduce negative interpretations of stress, and how to complete interoceptive exposures to reduce anxiety sensitivity. These skills are supported by 6 concurrent then subsequent weeks of ecological momentary intervention to deliver personalized intervention reminders based on symptoms.

"Patients will download the Breathe2Relax app, which delivers information about how to use diaphragm breathing (taking slow, deep breaths through the diaphragm) to manage stress. Participants will receive reminders to engage with the intervention. Participants will also receive ecological momentary intervention reminders to engage with the relaxation intervention."