TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment of co-occurring PTSD-AUD
T2 - Effects of exposure-based and non-trauma focused psychotherapy on alcohol and trauma cue-reactivity
AU - Nosen, Elizabeth
AU - Littlefield, Andrew K.
AU - Schumacher, Julie A.
AU - Stasiewicz, Paul R.
AU - Coffey, Scott F.
PY - 2014/10
Y1 - 2014/10
N2 - Laboratory studies have shown that exposure to trauma memories increases both craving and salivation responses to alcohol cues among individual with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence (AD). The purpose of the present study was to examine 1) whether this cue reactivity is dampened following exposure-based treatment for PTSD and 2) how changes in reactivity to trauma cues correspond to changes in alcohol cue-reactivity. Adults with current PTSD and AD (N=120) were randomly assigned to 9-12 sessions of either Trauma-focused Exposure Therapy (EXP) for PTSD or Health & Lifestyles (HLS, a non-trauma focused comparison treatment), concurrent with 6-week residential AD treatment-as-usual. Participants completed trauma and alcohol cue-reactivity laboratory sessions before and after treatment.Compared to HLS, individuals receiving EXP showed significantly greater reductions in negative affect elicited by trauma cues following treatment. Both treatments demonstrated similar, moderate to large reductions in craving and salivary reactivity over time. Interestingly, latent change in trauma cue-elicited distress over the course of treatment predicted latent change in both trauma cue-elicited alcohol craving and salivation.Overall, findings highlight the utility of integrating trauma-focused therapies like EXP into substance use treatment in the interests of reducing PTSD symptoms and distress associated with trauma cues.
AB - Laboratory studies have shown that exposure to trauma memories increases both craving and salivation responses to alcohol cues among individual with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence (AD). The purpose of the present study was to examine 1) whether this cue reactivity is dampened following exposure-based treatment for PTSD and 2) how changes in reactivity to trauma cues correspond to changes in alcohol cue-reactivity. Adults with current PTSD and AD (N=120) were randomly assigned to 9-12 sessions of either Trauma-focused Exposure Therapy (EXP) for PTSD or Health & Lifestyles (HLS, a non-trauma focused comparison treatment), concurrent with 6-week residential AD treatment-as-usual. Participants completed trauma and alcohol cue-reactivity laboratory sessions before and after treatment.Compared to HLS, individuals receiving EXP showed significantly greater reductions in negative affect elicited by trauma cues following treatment. Both treatments demonstrated similar, moderate to large reductions in craving and salivary reactivity over time. Interestingly, latent change in trauma cue-elicited distress over the course of treatment predicted latent change in both trauma cue-elicited alcohol craving and salivation.Overall, findings highlight the utility of integrating trauma-focused therapies like EXP into substance use treatment in the interests of reducing PTSD symptoms and distress associated with trauma cues.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Cue reactivity
KW - PTSD
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905837119&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brat.2014.07.003
DO - 10.1016/j.brat.2014.07.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 25127178
AN - SCOPUS:84905837119
VL - 61
SP - 35
EP - 42
JO - Behaviour Research and Therapy
JF - Behaviour Research and Therapy
SN - 0005-7967
ER -