Couple-Based Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CTAP)

VA Office of Research and Development

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 1

Conditions

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Alcohol-related Disorders

Treatments

Behavioral: Couple-Based Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders and PTSD

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00946322

CDA-2-019-09S

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a couple-based treatment for Veterans with an alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Enrollment

13 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Veteran must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for current (past 12 months) alcohol abuse or dependence and alcohol must be the Veteran's primary substance of abuse as determined by a clinical algorithm (Fals-Stewart, Stappenbeck et al, 2004);
Veteran must meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past month) PTSD;
Veteran consumed alcohol in the past 90 days;
couple must be married to or living with their current partner for at least 1 year;
Veteran agrees to a goal of abstinence from drugs at least for the duration of the 15-week study-based treatment;
Veteran agrees to the goal of abstaining from alcohol or consuming alcohol within low risk drinking guidelines during the duration of the 15-week study-based counseling;
Veteran agrees to forego other treatment for alcohol-related disorders except for self help meetings (e.g., AA) or treatment required for a clinical emergency or clinical deterioration for the duration of the 15-week study based treatment;
Veteran agrees to forgo other PTSD treatment except for treatment required for a clinical emergency or clinical deterioration for the duration of the 15-week study based treatment;
couple agrees to forgo other couple-based counseling for the duration of the 15-week study based treatment except for treatment required for a clinical emergency or clinical deterioration;
partner does not meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past 12 month) substance use disorder (other than nicotine)
partner does not meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past month) PTSD.

Exclusion criteria

Veteran has dependence on alcohol or other drugs that requires inpatient treatment or medical detoxification (as indicated by daily heavy use or use to prevent or deal with withdrawal symptoms) - after completing detoxification, Veteran may be eligible for the study;
Veteran or partner are at immediate risk for suicide or homicide (current plan or intent);
Veteran or partner exhibit a history of suicide or homicide attempt in the past year;
Veteran is participating in a methadone maintenance or suboxone maintenance program and is seeking treatment for adjunctive outpatient services;
Veteran or partner meets DSM-IV criteria for a current organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, delusional (paranoid) disorder, or any of the other psychotic disorders.