Interview in VGCt magazine

In the March edition of the VGCt magazine, Sera Lortye and Marleen de Waal share the key findings of the recently published TOPA study. This study examined the best timing for treating PTSD in people undergoing addiction treatment: simultaneously or after completion. Three trauma treatment methods were compared: Prolonged Exposure (PE), EMDR, and Imagery Rescripting (ImRs).

What do the results show?
✔️ All three treatment methods are effective
✔️ Simultaneous and sequential treatment are equally effective
✔️ Simultaneous treatment leads to a faster reduction in PTSD symptoms
✔️ 7 out of 10 clients prefer simultaneous treatment

The key message:
There is no need to delay PTSD treatment for people in addiction treatment. Simultaneous treatment is safe, effective, and better aligned with client preferences. Therefore, it is important to decide together with the client on both the timing and the type of treatment.

Want to read more?

Interview VGCt: VGCt magazine #1 2026 – VGCt Kennisnet

Scientific article: Timing and type of posttraumatic stress disorder treatment in patients with co-occurring substance use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder – A randomized controlled trial – PubMed