Polizzi CP, Sistad RE, Livingston NA, et al. Alcohol-Related Problems As Moderators of PTSD Symptom Change During Use of a Web-Based Intervention for Hazardous Drinking and PTSD. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2024;85(1):51-61. doi:10.15288/jsad.23-00094
This secondary analysis of data from the VetChange RCT provided initial evidence supporting the utility of the intervention with co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) and PTSD. Specifically, veterans with higher rates of reported interpersonal problems from AUD showed more significant reductions in PTSD symptoms over time. In this analysis post 9/11 veterans (n=600) were allowed immediate access to the digital PTSD intervention VetChange (n=404) or were given access after a delay (n=196). To determine if VetChange might be especially effective for co-occurring PTSD and AUD the role of interpersonal problems from AUD, measured using the short inventory of problems (SIP) on PTSD severity reduction, measured using the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) was assessed. A mixed-effects regression model predicting PCL-5 scores based on SIP scores, controlling for additional factors in both the immediate and delay groups was conducted. In the immediate, but not delayed group (before gaining access to VetChange), the level of AUD-related interpersonal problems predicted greater reductions in PTSD symptom severity after using VetChange. Specifically, modules focused on identifying high-risk for drinking and managing stress, anger, or sleep, were more likely to be completed by people with higher AUD-related interpersonal problems. Higher AUD-related interpersonal problems were also more common in non-white veterans. Future research addressing the utility of VetChange for co-occurring AUD and PTSD should address specific changes to the modules most commonly accessed by this population as well as assess the need for cultural tailoring.