These treatments use different techniques to help people process their traumatic experiences. Those with the strongest evidence include Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It’s also effective for treating alcohol use disorder.7 So, a patient with PTSD and alcohol use disorder might participate in individual therapy, like stress inoculation therapy, to learn healthy and effective strategies for coping with PTSD symptoms. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by a reduced ability to stop or control alcohol use despite negative social, work, or health consequences. Often, it co-occurs and interacts with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault, and can result in shock, confusion, anger, and anxiety.
- If you tend to use the substance (or use more of the substance) following triggers, such as contact with a perpetrator or on trauma anniversaries, this can also be a sign that your substance use is related to trauma.
- Given the paucity of studies we opted to include the latter two studies in this review (See Table 1).
- Negative cognitions and mood symptoms involve negative thoughts and feelings about oneself, others, and the world.
PTSD symptoms
Also needed is examination of how adding PTSD-focused treatment to AUD treatment will be feasible in terms of treatment costs, training requirements, and staff workload. Studies examining outcomes of integrated treatments among people with comorbid AUD and PTSD, when compared with people who have PTSD and substance use disorder involving multiple substances, is necessary to identify and target specific alcohol-related treatment needs. Finally, given the heterogeneous nature of AUD120 and the complex etiology, course, and treatment of both AUD and PTSD, studies https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that examine commonalities underlying effective behavioral treatments are essential. Two studies featured in this virtual issue analyzed extensive cross-sectional data to discern the complex effects of race and ethnicity on AUD and PTSD. Werner and colleagues (2016) utilized a large dataset of almost 4,000 women to examine comparative differences in alcohol use patterns, AUD prevalence, and the relationship between trauma and AUD among European American (EA) and African American (AA) women. EA women were found to be more likely than their AA counterparts to use alcohol and to develop AUD.
Can I Get a VA Rating for PTSD with Alcohol Use Disorder?
Although promising interventions exist, more research is needed to assess the degree to which current interventions are effective for service members and veterans. Also, new interventions that target this population should be developed and tested. Eight of the veterans showed clinically reliable reductions in PTSD outcomes after treatment. Most of the veterans showed clinically reliable reductions in their percentage of days of heavy drinking. In one case study of an OEF/OIF veteran, researchers examined the effectiveness of concurrent treatment of PTSD and SUD using prolonged exposure (COPE) therapy.45 COPE involves 12, 90-minute sessions that integrate relapse prevention with prolonged exposure therapy.
Physical Health Risks
Getting treatment for PTSD or using positive coping actions are better options than turning to alcohol or drugs. Another factor to consider is that as alcohol use increases, there’s a reduced likelihood that someone with PTSD will recognize that they have PTSD, let alone seek treatment for their PTSD. Untreated, PTSD can become a severe, debilitating disorder that can have life-changing ramifications in terms of mental health, the stability of relationships, and the ability to work. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and group therapy are commonly used approaches that can help individuals understand and manage their PTSD symptoms while addressing underlying alcohol abuse issues. Alcohol may temporarily relieve anxiety symptoms, but in the long term, it worsens anxiety and can even trigger panic attacks. This can create a vicious cycle where individuals turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism, only to find their anxiety escalating as a result.
The Not-So-Obvious Spectrum: Understanding Alcohol Usage Disorder
Initially, your “whys” might be rooted in the negative aspects of drinking – feeling low, disliking your behaviour when you drink, or financial concerns. However, as you make the adjustment to drinking less or going alcohol-free, you’ll notice a transformation in your “whys.” You’ll find yourself sleeping better, feeling more in control, and experiencing a deep sense of pride in your journey. At PTSD UK, we are excited to join forces with SoberBuzz to extend our support to people dealing with PTSD or C-PTSD who are seeking to take control of their alcohol consumption. The valuable hints and tips that follow are a result of our partnership with SoberBuzz, aimed at empowering you on your path to well-being. Lee and colleagues investigate childhood stress as a predictor for PTSD and AUD in Early Life Stress as a Predictor of Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. They review both human and preclinical models of these disorders and examine potential biologic, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms.
Assessments that followed have used the foundational structure and question format of the DIS to interview participants. They include the CIDI, AUDADIS, and, recently, the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders. In fact, the DIS has continued to be revised based on the DSM and the International Classification of Diseases, making it one of the ptsd and alcohol abuse most durable standardized diagnostic assessments in the field. Some survivors of trauma and those who struggle with their substance use benefit from group therapy or peer support in their recovery. Your therapist or general practitioner might have information about local resources. The VA rates PTSD using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which ranges from 0% to 100%.
Similarly, women exposed to childhood rape often report turning to alcohol to reduce symptoms of PTSD (Epstein et al. 1998). In addition, investigators found that 40 percent of inpatients receiving treatment for substance abuse also met criteria for PTSD (Dansky et al. 1997). For example, she reexperienced her sexual abuse through frequent nightmares and intrusive, distressing thoughts and images of the event whenever she encountered men who physically resembled her father or when she was in closed spaces, such as closets or basements. Emotionally, she alternated between feeling apathetic, numb, and alienated from others and feeling “on edge,” hypervigilant, and anxious. She avoided numerous situations reminiscent of her earlier experiences, including her childhood home and movies and news items involving child abuse.
- Personal stories and case studies can provide valuable insight into the experiences of individuals living with PTSD and alcohol use disorder.
- For example, although some people use alcohol to help them sleep, in reality, alcohol can make sleep less restful.
- In addition to liver damage, alcohol abuse can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
- The titration was accomplished in 2 weeks, so a 6-week trial should be adequate to evaluate medication response.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in seven people in the US aged 12 or older report experiencing a substance use disorder.
In addition, though only one-day prior, retrospective reporting of PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, and problems, may have resulted in recall bias. However, questioning respondents at the end of the day would have increased the risk of missing consumption data and alcohol-related problems occurring later in the evening or early morning. In addition, we were only able to monitor participants for one week prior to receipt of a brief intervention; future research should use a longer monitoring period in order to better assess within-person changes and to determine whether these findings are maintained across time.
Integrated PTSD and SUD treatment
Desipramine (and the other tricylic antidepressants) are considered second line medications by the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines (The Management of Substance Abuse Use Disorders Working Group 2009). Despite the contradictory results, this review suggests that individuals with AUD and comorbid PTSD can safely be prescribed medications used in non-comorbid populations and patients improve with treatment. A recent study looked at a population with PTSD and compared those with past combat experience and those without. Those with combat in their pasts were more likely to use alcohol to cope with PTSD symptoms. This finding could lead to more intensive substance use screening for patients with combat trauma. Individuals with CPTSD may use substances like alcohol or drugs to cope with their emotional distress and psychological symptoms resulting from prolonged trauma exposure.
Treatments for AUD
Consider activities like organising a drawer, giving your home a quick clean, enjoying a refreshing shower, taking a brisk walk, planning your meals, or engaging in physical somatic movement (dance around the kitchen, go for a run, do some exercise). By shifting your focus to these positive actions, you can dissipate the desire to drink and naturally boost your serotonin levels. Your journey toward Oxford House sobriety is a courageous and empowering one, and you are not alone.
