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Comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and nonsuicidal self-injury between veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Blakey, SM; Griffin, SC; Grove, JL; Peter, SC; Levi, RD; Calhoun, PS; Elbogen, EB; Beckham, JC; Pugh, MJ; Kimbrel, NA
Published in: J Affect Disord
July 1, 2022

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are each common among Unites States (U.S.) military veterans and frequently co-occur (i.e., PTSD+AUD). Although comorbid PTSD+AUD is generally associated with worse outcomes relative to either diagnosis alone, some studies suggest the added burden of comorbid PTSD+AUD is greater relative to AUD-alone than to PTSD-alone. Furthermore, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is more common among veterans than previously thought but rarely measured as a veteran psychiatric health outcome. This study sought to replicate and extend previous work by comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and NSSI among veterans screening positive for PTSD, AUD, comorbid PTSD+AUD, and neither disorder. METHODS: This study analyzed data from a national sample of N = 1046 U.S. veterans who had served during the Gulf War. Participants self-reported sociodemographic, functioning, and clinical information through a mailed survey. RESULTS: Veterans with probable PTSD+AUD reported worse psychosocial functioning across multiple domains compared to veterans with probable AUD, but only worse functioning related to controlling violent behavior when compared to veterans with probable PTSD. Veterans with probable PTSD+AUD reported greater suicidal ideation and NSSI than veterans with probable AUD, but fewer prior suicide attempts than veterans with probable PTSD. LIMITATIONS: This study was cross-sectional, relied on self-report, did not verify clinical diagnoses, and may not generalize to veterans of other military conflicts. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the adverse psychiatric and functional outcomes associated with PTSD and comorbid PTSD+AUD, such as NSSI, and highlight the importance of delivering evidence-based treatment to this veteran population.

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Published In

J Affect Disord

DOI

EISSN

1573-2517

Publication Date

July 1, 2022

Volume

308

Start / End Page

10 / 18

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Self-Injurious Behavior
  • Psychosocial Functioning
  • Psychiatry
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Alcoholism
  • 52 Psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Blakey, S. M., Griffin, S. C., Grove, J. L., Peter, S. C., Levi, R. D., Calhoun, P. S., … Kimbrel, N. A. (2022). Comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and nonsuicidal self-injury between veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. J Affect Disord, 308, 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.006
Blakey, Shannon M., Sarah C. Griffin, Jeremy L. Grove, Samuel C. Peter, Ryan D. Levi, Patrick S. Calhoun, Eric B. Elbogen, Jean C. Beckham, Mary J. Pugh, and Nathan A. Kimbrel. “Comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and nonsuicidal self-injury between veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder.J Affect Disord 308 (July 1, 2022): 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.006.
Blakey SM, Griffin SC, Grove JL, Peter SC, Levi RD, Calhoun PS, et al. Comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and nonsuicidal self-injury between veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. J Affect Disord. 2022 Jul 1;308:10–8.
Blakey, Shannon M., et al. “Comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and nonsuicidal self-injury between veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder.J Affect Disord, vol. 308, July 2022, pp. 10–18. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.006.
Blakey SM, Griffin SC, Grove JL, Peter SC, Levi RD, Calhoun PS, Elbogen EB, Beckham JC, Pugh MJ, Kimbrel NA. Comparing psychosocial functioning, suicide risk, and nonsuicidal self-injury between veterans with probable posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. J Affect Disord. 2022 Jul 1;308:10–18.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Affect Disord

DOI

EISSN

1573-2517

Publication Date

July 1, 2022

Volume

308

Start / End Page

10 / 18

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Self-Injurious Behavior
  • Psychosocial Functioning
  • Psychiatry
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Alcoholism
  • 52 Psychology