Implementing Trauma Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (T‐SBIRT) within Employment Services: A Feasibility Trial

Abstract

Highlights Presentation of a trauma‐responsive screening and referral protocol. Feasibility study of a trauma‐responsive screening and referral protocol within employment services. Discussion of the relevance of trauma‐responsive screening and referral for community psychology. Discussion of the relevance of trauma‐responsive screening and referral for public health. Transitioning from trauma‐informed to trauma‐responsive practice frameworks.

Increasing mental health treatment access and equity through trauma-responsive care.

“…The project drew on a longstanding community–university partnership between a public health agency and a university research institute, which facilitated the development of training, implementation, data collection, and referral protocols. For example, Family Connects program personnel worked with the T-SBIRT model developer to adapt T-SBIRT so that its administration averaged less than 12 min, whereas in other service contexts the protocol can last up to 30 min (Topitzes et al, 2019). Modifications were also made to Family Connects procedures to accommodate T-SBIRT data collection and dissemination.…”

“…T-SBIRT is a brief, voluntary intervention that aims to increase the likelihood that adults with trauma-related symptoms access appropriate treatment services (Topitzes et al, 2019). Modeled after Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), a well-known approach for alcohol and substance misuse, T-SBIRT is a portable protocol that can be applied in many service contexts by trained, nonclinical professionals (for information about training, see Topitzes et al, 2019).…”

“…T-SBIRT is a brief, voluntary intervention that aims to increase the likelihood that adults with trauma-related symptoms access appropriate treatment services (Topitzes et al, 2019). Modeled after Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), a well-known approach for alcohol and substance misuse, T-SBIRT is a portable protocol that can be applied in many service contexts by trained, nonclinical professionals (for information about training, see Topitzes et al, 2019). The goals of T-SBIRT are to increase the identification of trauma exposure and related symptoms, help clients recognize the connection between trauma and their current functioning, and enhance their motivation to follow through on treatment referrals.…”

“…Two feasibility studies of T-SBIRT have been completed with low-income and predominantly racial/ethnic minority adults. The first was conducted as part of an SBIRT implementation project with 112 patients seeking health care from federally qualified health centers (Topitzes et al, 2017), and the second with 83 clients who sought assistance from an employment service program (Topitzes et al, 2019). In both studies, more than 90% of participants reported at least one PTE and roughly half screened positive for PTSD risk.…”

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment to Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After Gunshot Wounds

“…T-SBIRT proved to be both a feasible and effective method of screening for PTSD among adults in the emergency department (ED) but was limited in that it did not explicitly prove effectiveness at reducing the mental health consequences associated with trauma. 3,4…”