Clinical Trial finds that PTSD and AUD can be Treated at the Same Time

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are two conditions that commonly co-occur in individuals who have experienced traumatic events. PTSD is a mental health disorder that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, war, or natural disaster. Symptoms of PTSD can include nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and avoidance of situations that trigger memories of the traumatic event.

AUD, on the other hand, is a chronic disorder characterized by a problematic pattern of alcohol use that leads to significant impairment or distress. Individuals with AUD may experience a range of symptoms, including cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and difficulty controlling their drinking.

Research suggests that there is a strong association between PTSD and AUD, with individuals with PTSD being at higher risk of developing AUD compared to those without PTSD. Furthermore, individuals with co-occurring PTSD and AUD often have more severe symptoms and poorer treatment outcomes than those with either disorder alone. As such, it is important to understand the relationship between PTSD and AUD and to develop effective treatments that address both conditions.

Clinical Trial

A clinical trial compared three groups of people who all had PTSD and AUD and had one of the following interventions: Cognitive Processing Therapy, Relapse Prevention, and compared the results with people that had Assessment-Only.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

It is a type of therapy that helps people change negative thoughts and beliefs related to traumatic experiences. It helps people who have PTSD by reducing symptoms such as nightmares, and flashbacks, and avoiding things that remind them of their trauma. People who receive CPT usually have 12 sessions of therapy, once a week.

Relapse Prevention (RP)

It is a type of therapy that helps people who struggle with alcohol addiction. It teaches people how to identify triggers for drinking and how to prevent relapse. People who receive RP usually have 12-20 sessions of therapy, once a week.

Assessment-Only (AO)

It is a group that only completed assessments but didn't receive any treatment. The group was used as a comparison group to see how well the other two groups did in comparison.

Results

The trial found that people who received CPT had significant improvement in their PTSD symptoms compared to the people who were in the AO group. However, both the CPT and RP groups had a significant decrease in heavy drinking days compared to the AO group. After 12 months, both groups continued to improve, with RP showing an advantage in reducing heavy drinking days.

The clinical trial's findings suggest that people who have PTSD and AUD can get help for both conditions at the same time. It's important to get help for both conditions because they can affect each other, and it can be hard to recover from one without treating the other. The clinical trial found that people who receive either CPT or RP can experience improvements in both their PTSD and AUD symptoms.

Conclusion

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD and AUD, it's important to seek help. There are different types of therapies available, including CPT and RP, that can help improve symptoms and overall well-being. It's important to work with a qualified therapist or specialist who can recommend the best course of treatment based on individual needs.

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