Posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, and physical health concerns.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
PTSD is a risk factor for alcohol problems and both in turn have been independently associated with increased health problems. However, it is unclear whether alcohol use moderates the relationship between PTSD and health. Participants were battered women (N = 336) recruited from local domestic violence shelters and non-shelter victim-assistance agencies. A 2 (PTSD diagnosis) x 3 (abstainer, infrequent/light, regular/heavy drinking) ANCOVA was conducted, with injuries and length of abuse as covariates and health concerns as the dependent variable. Main effects for PTSD and alcohol use were significant but not the interaction. Women with PTSD reported the greatest number of health concerns. Women who abstained from drinking and those who drank regularly/heavily reported more health concerns than the infrequent/light drinkers. Health concerns associated with PTSD do not appear to be due to problem drinking. In addition, infrequent/light drinking, even for women with PTSD, may be associated with fewer health concerns.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Kaysen, D; Pantalone, DW; Chawla, N; Lindgren, KP; Clum, GA; Lee, C; Resick, PA
Published Date
- April 2008
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 31 / 2
Start / End Page
- 115 - 125
PubMed ID
- 18095150
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC2977920
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0160-7715
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1007/s10865-007-9140-5
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States