Open AccessPosttraumatic Stress Disorder and Co‐Occurring Substance Use Disorders: Advances in Assessment and Treatment
Author(s) -
McCauley Jenna L.,
Killeen Therese,
Gros Daniel F.,
Brady Kathleen T.,
Back Sudie E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical psychology: science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1468-2850
pISSN - 0969-5893
DOI - 10.1111/cpsp.12006
Subject(s) - psychosocial , posttraumatic stress , psychiatry , substance abuse , etiology , clinical psychology , comorbidity , substance use , psychology , medicine
Posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and substance use disorders ( SUD s) are prevalent and frequently co‐occur. Comorbid PTSD / SUD is associated with a more complex and costly clinical course when compared with either disorder alone, including increased chronic physical health problems, poorer social functioning, higher rates of suicide attempts, more legal problems, increased risk of violence, worse treatment adherence, and less improvement during treatment. In response, psychosocial treatment options have increased substantially over the past decade and integrated approaches—treatments that address symptoms of both PTSD and SUD concurrently—are fast becoming the preferred model for treatment. This article reviews the prevalence, etiology, and assessment practices as well as advances in the behavioral and pharmacologic treatment of comorbid PTSD and SUD s.