Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Nov;30(6):e4303-e4310. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13823. Epub 2022 May 12.
Complex traumatic experiences, such as childhood sexual and physical abuse, occur in approximately 13% of the Australian population and are more common in women. Despite the prevalence of complex trauma and the need for evidence-based services for survivors, no studies have explored treatment-related experiences of women with complex trauma in Australia. The aim of the current study was to identify barriers and facilitators to treatment seeking and engagement amongst women who have experienced complex trauma in Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 women with complex trauma histories who presented to a university outpatient psychology clinic. Content analysis was used to identify common barriers and facilitators to mental health treatment seeking and engagement amongst these women. Participants faced three key barriers when seeking treatment and engaging in mental health services: systemic issues, dissatisfaction with treatment and intrapersonal barriers (e.g. fear of the healthcare system). Appropriate support from supportive, committed health care workers was a facilitator to engagement and access. Findings from this study suggest that the mental health system in Australia may not be meeting the needs of women with complex trauma histories. Increasing access to affordable, trauma-informed care and bolstering providers' knowledge of complex trauma, may enable some of the barriers identified by participants to be overcome.
复杂的创伤经历，如儿童期性虐待和身体虐待，在澳大利亚约 13%的人群中发生，在女性中更为常见。尽管复杂创伤很普遍，而且幸存者需要基于证据的服务，但没有研究探讨过澳大利亚有复杂创伤经历的女性的治疗相关体验。本研究的目的是确定在澳大利亚经历过复杂创伤的女性寻求治疗和参与治疗的障碍和促进因素。对 11 名有复杂创伤史的女性进行了半结构化访谈，她们在一所大学门诊心理诊所就诊。采用内容分析法确定这些女性寻求心理健康治疗和参与治疗的常见障碍和促进因素。参与者在寻求治疗和参与心理健康服务时面临三个关键障碍：系统问题、对治疗不满和个人障碍（例如对医疗保健系统的恐惧）。来自支持性、有承诺的医疗保健工作者的适当支持是参与和获得治疗的促进因素。这项研究的结果表明，澳大利亚的心理健康系统可能无法满足有复杂创伤史的女性的需求。增加获得负担得起的、以创伤为中心的护理的机会，并增强提供者对复杂创伤的了解，可能有助于克服参与者所确定的一些障碍。
