The Application of Trauma-Informed Care to Substance Use Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Maternal-infant health
• Trauma studies

Background:

• Trauma has multidimensional physical and psychological impacts with lasting effects.
• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) affects infants and their families, often involving trauma.
• Optimal infant outcomes are linked to maternal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of trauma-informed care (TIC) for infants with NAS and their mothers.
• To advocate for organizational adoption of TIC in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

Main Methods:

• Literature review on trauma-informed care principles.
• Analysis of the impact of trauma on neonatal outcomes.
• Conceptual framework for TIC in the NICU setting.

Main Results:

• TIC is applicable to diverse traumatized patient/family groups in the NICU.
• A holistic approach considering maternal well-being is crucial for infant outcomes.
• Organizational implementation of TIC can foster a therapeutic NICU environment.

Conclusions:

• Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a vital approach for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and their mothers.
• Adopting TIC in NICUs promotes a supportive environment, enhancing care for vulnerable families.
• Integrating TIC can lead to improved long-term well-being and function for affected infants and mothers.