Lay summary
The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related distress (subsyndromal PTSD) is increasing. At-risk populations include military, police and first responders, but the mental health effects of COVID are triggering increased rates in the wider population. Reported rates among Pacific peoples are double those of non-Pacific/indigenous peoples. The efficacy of current therapies for PTSD is low, motivating calls for innovative treatment approaches. Anecdotal reports suggest that traditionally-influenced kava use settings produce a context in which mental wellbeing therapy occurs informally. Kava is a culturally-significant Pacific drink with clinically-validated anti-anxiety properties. Participants engaged in traditional kava-use report that kava with talanoa (a form of dialogue referred to as ‘talk therapy’) is associated with a sense of increased cultural connectedness and reduced traumatic distress and PTSD symptomology. This project uses psychometric instruments and interviews to assess the efficacy of traditional kava-use as a culturally-informed, therapeutic approach to treating PTSD/subsyndromal PTSD.