Integrated CBT to Improve Functioning in Veterans With Anxiety and Substance Use

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Hazardous Drinking; Anxiety Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Usual care; Behavioral: Unified Protocol- Alcohol

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT04871100

1IK2RX003520-01A2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

D3520-W

Details and patient eligibility

About

Individual with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder often use alcohol in ways that could cause them harm. Treating both mental health concerns and alcohol use at the same time can help reduce difficulties engaging in multiple treatments. The investigators are evaluating how a cognitive behavioral therapy program that helps Veterans with anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol use at the same time can help improve the participants lives.

Full description

Co-occurring hazardous drinking, anxiety disorders, and PTSD are problematic combinations of mental health concerns experienced by deployed Veterans. Veterans who have been deployed are at particular risk for experiencing problems in functioning and reintegration related to mental health disorders and hazardous drinking. Co-occurring anxiety and hazardous drinking heavily impact psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Although cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can promote psychological recovery through improvements in functioning and quality of life, most CBT protocols do not address co-occurring disorders, leading to inefficient and disjointed treatment. The current research seeks to adapt and test the Unified Protocol (UP) for deployed Veterans with hazardous drinking. The use of combined CBT for both anxiety disorders and hazardous drinking has the potential to more efficiently and effectively improve functioning, reduce symptoms, and promote psychosocial recovery.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• meeting diagnostic criteria for current anxiety disorder and
• endorsing hazardous alcohol use

Exclusion criteria

-need for acute medically-supervised detoxification with exclusionary criteria of

• high-risk suicidality
• psychotic symptoms, or
• cognitive impairment that could interfere with engagement in weekly psychotherapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

UP-A

Experimental group

Description:

Cognitive behavior therapy using the Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders with supplemental skills-based alcohol modules.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Unified Protocol- Alcohol

Enhanced Usual Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

referrals to VA care for SUD and anxiety

Treatment:

Behavioral: Usual care