The survivor moms' companion: Feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a posttraumatic stress specific psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma

Abstract: Pregnant women with history of abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have increased risk of adverse mental health and childbearing outcomes. The Survivor Moms Companion (SMC) is a psychoeducation program designed to meet the needs of women abuse survivors affected by PTSD during the childbearing year. This article reports on the feasibility, safety, and acceptability findings of an open pilot. Participants completed 10 self-study modules and structured tutoring sessions, and completed self-report measures, including reports of tutor fidelity to the manual, repeated assessment of PTSD symptoms, Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scores, and evaluation interviews. Results indicate that the intervention can be implemented within low-resource settings with high level of fidelity to the manual. Monitoring of PTSD symptom level and distress indicate that the intervention is safe. Participants report satisfaction with the format and content and appreciation for the tutoring component. The SMC appears to be feasible, safe, and acceptable.