An Integrated Brief Alcohol and PTSD Intervention for Veterans in Primary Care
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
- Sponsor
- Syracuse VA Medical Center
- Enrollment
- 63
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Average Number of Drinks Per Drinking Day
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 3 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This project aims to develop and test an integrated brief intervention to reduce heavy alcohol use and PTSD severity in veterans receiving Veterans Affairs Primary Care. Standard brief alcohol interventions have been unsuccessful in reducing heavy drinking in traumatized individuals and current integrated treatment for alcohol use disorder and PTSD are too long to be delivered in Primary Care. Therefore, this application addresses this gap by developing an intervention tailored to the specific needs of heavy drinking veterans who have co- occurring PTSD. This study aims to incorporate two evidenced-based interventions: Brief Motivational Interviewing (BMI) with Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC). This newly developed brief intervention will be piloted in an open trial to gather veteran participant feedback and develop clinician training and fidelity procedures.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •A score of 8-25 for men, 6-25 for women on the AUDIT and have past month drinking (i.e., have not quit drinking over the last month)
- •Score ≥30 on the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) and report a traumatic event on the Criterion A screener
Exclusion Criteria
- •Score of a 26 or higher on the AUDIT
- •gross cognitive impairment as assessed by the Mini Mental Status Exam
- •current symptoms of mania or psychosis
- •currently in need of detox services
- •Have had a suicide attempt in the last two months or a current intent to commit suicide as assessed on the P4 Screener. (Patients with recent suicide attempts or intent may be enrolled following receipt of suicide prevention services)
- •Are currently receiving psychotherapy for heavy drinking or PTSD outside of PC within the last 2 months
- •Have started or changed the dose of a psychotropic medication for heavy drinking or PTSD in the last two months that was prescribed outside of VA PC
- •Have a preference to be directly referred to VA specialty care for heavy drinking or PTSD.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Average Number of Drinks Per Drinking Day
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The Timeline Follow-back instrument is presented as a 30-day calendar and it is used to obtain count estimates of daily drinking.
PTSD Checklist-5
Time Frame: 8 weeks
This 21-item self-report measure asks respondents to rate how much they have been bothered by DSM-5 PTSD symptoms in the past month on a 0-4 Likert-type scale. The scale ranges from 0-84 with 84 being the most severe PTSD. The total score was used to indicate PTSD severity at post-treatment.
Change in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)-5 Severity Rating
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
This 30-item structured interview assesses DSM-5 symptoms of Posttraumatic stress disorder. It includes assessment of traumatic events and symptom severity ratings are based on symptom frequency and intensity. CAPS-5 total symptom severity score ranges 0-80, with higher scores representing higher severity (worse outcome).
Secondary Outcomes
- Post-intervention Treatment Engagement(20 weeks)