Couples-Based Behavioral Psychotherapy for Male Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Dependence

What is the purpose of this trial?

Who can participate?

Ages Eligible: 21 Years - 65 Years
Gender Eligible: Male

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male patients

- One to six weeks of abstinence from alcohol and other drugs

- Both partners agree to stated goals of abstinence from alcohol and drugs, reduction
of PTSD symptoms, and relationship improvement

- Current diagnoses of both alcohol dependence and PTSD

- Receiving treatment for one or both disorders

- Functionally able to participate in outpatient treatment as determined by P.I.
"Functionally able" includes access to transportation.

- Alcohol is "drug of choice" (History of other drugs acceptable)

- Married or cohabiting in stable relationship for at least 6 months. Separated couples
may participate if attempting to reconcile

- Patient willing to sign release of information allowing researchers to communicate
with patient's clinician regarding treatment goals

Exclusion Criteria:

- Spouse or partner also has an alcohol or drug problem as determined by P.I. based on
report by patient or partner or as revealed on Alcohol Use Disorders Identification
Test (AUDIT) or the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) given to partner at intake
assessment

- Mental retardation or learning disorder by clinician report or patient chart

- Psychotic disorder as determined by patient's chart or SCID

- Patient currently receiving methadone or another opiate agonist by patient report or
chart

- Current fear of partner or history of severe domestic violence in the past year. An
example of severe violence would be a couple reporting an episode of violence that
required medical attention. Such couples will be excluded from the study and referred
to domestic violence treatment. Couples who have experienced mild to moderate
domestic violence may participate in Phase II of the study.

What is the purpose of this trial?

Who can participate?

Ages Eligible: 21 Years - 65 Years
Gender Eligible: Male

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male patients

- One to six weeks of abstinence from alcohol and other drugs

- Both partners agree to stated goals of abstinence from alcohol and drugs, reduction
of PTSD symptoms, and relationship improvement

- Current diagnoses of both alcohol dependence and PTSD

- Receiving treatment for one or both disorders

- Functionally able to participate in outpatient treatment as determined by P.I.
"Functionally able" includes access to transportation.

- Alcohol is "drug of choice" (History of other drugs acceptable)

- Married or cohabiting in stable relationship for at least 6 months. Separated couples
may participate if attempting to reconcile

- Patient willing to sign release of information allowing researchers to communicate
with patient's clinician regarding treatment goals

Exclusion Criteria:

- Spouse or partner also has an alcohol or drug problem as determined by P.I. based on
report by patient or partner or as revealed on Alcohol Use Disorders Identification
Test (AUDIT) or the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) given to partner at intake
assessment

- Mental retardation or learning disorder by clinician report or patient chart

- Psychotic disorder as determined by patient's chart or SCID

- Patient currently receiving methadone or another opiate agonist by patient report or
chart

- Current fear of partner or history of severe domestic violence in the past year. An
example of severe violence would be a couple reporting an episode of violence that
required medical attention. Such couples will be excluded from the study and referred
to domestic violence treatment. Couples who have experienced mild to moderate
domestic violence may participate in Phase II of the study.

Additional Location

Connecticut