addictive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders

The association between addictive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders is a major source of concern and difficulties for professionals in both sectors, but also and above all for the people concerned and their families, with a greatly altered quality of life and chaotic care paths. All the most recent studies indicate that the major predictive factor of a poor prognosis (chronic, severe, complications) of an addiction is not its intensity but the presence of associated mental disorders.

Today, in France, the difficulties of screening and supporting people suffering from both addiction and post-traumatic stress disorders do not allow for optimal care, particularly because of the logic of the different sectors. The treatment of these pathologies is often compartmentalized between the addictionology and psychiatry sectors, with professionals in each field tending to concentrate on the pathology in their field to the detriment of screening and treatment of those 'outside the field'. This results in a chaotic care pathway for the people concerned, marked by breaks and referrals between different specialized services. The damage they suffer is significant and results in a collapse of the functional and vital prognosis as well as a profound alteration of their quality of life and that of their entourage.

The Fédération Addiction organization, in partnership with the Centre National de Ressources et de Résilience (CN2R) and the Centre hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, is carrying out a project to improve the diagnostic and the care pathway of people affected by both addiction and post-traumatic stress disorders.

An experiment has been launched in 3 French regions, to support the structures specialized in addictions (CSAPA) and structures specialized in post-traumatic stress disorders (CRP) to develop their screening tools and therapies, and to improve their cooperation. We will present the most relevant approaches and tools to meet the needs of people concerned by these co-occurring disorders.