Post-deployment AUD and DUD diagnoses were more prevalent in subgroups of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and were highly comorbid with PTSD and depression. Stigma and lack of universal screening may have reduced the number of DUD diagnoses reported. There is a need for improved screening and diagnosis of substance use disorders and increased availability of integrated treatments that simultaneously address AUD and DUD in the context of PTSD and other deployment-related mental health disorders.

No abstract

Alcohol use is frequently associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in the face of chronic traumatic experiences. However, the relationship between alcohol use and symptoms associated with chronic trauma exposure has not been evaluated. This study examined alcohol use in recently battered women (N=369). Differences were found in trauma symptoms between abstainers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers, with heavy drinkers reporting more severe symptoms. Mediational analyses suggest that the relationship between drinking and trauma symptoms is mediated by drinking to cope, which has not been previously demonstrated in a battered population. Results suggest the importance of assessing trauma symptoms and motives for drinking in understanding alcohol use in recent survivors of domestic violence.