Ma'mon M Hatmal
The Hashemite University, Jordan
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Metabolomics (Los Angels)
Statement of the Problem: Women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) are at greater risk for
physical and mental health problems including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependency.
On their own IPV, PTSD and alcohol dependency result in significant personal, social and economic cost and the
impact of all three may compound these costs. Researchers have reported that women with these experiences are
more difficult to treat; many do not access treatment and those who do, frequently do not stay because of difficulty
maintaining helping relationships. However, these women’s perspective has not been previously studied. The purpose
of this study is to describe the experience of seeking help for alcohol dependency by women with PTSD and a history
of IPV in the context in which it occurs.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: An inter subjective ethnographic study using hermeneutic dialogue
was utilized during participant observation, in- depth interviews and focus groups. An ecological framework was
utilized to focus on the interaction between the counselors and the staff to understand this relationships and the
context in which it occurs.
Findings: The women in this study were very active help seekers. They encountered many gaps in continuity of
care including discharge because of relapse. Although the treatment center was a warm, healing and spiritual place,
the women left the center without treatment for their trauma needs and many without any referral to address these
outstanding issues.
Conclusion & Significance: Women with alcohol dependence and PTSD with a history of IPV want help however the
health and social services don’t always recognize their calls for help or their symptoms of distress. Recommendations
are made for treatment centers to become trauma- informed that would help this recognition.
E-mail: mmhatmal@gmail.com
Metabolomics:Open Access received 895 citations as per Google Scholar report