Adapting Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy for Service Members in Post-Deployment

Adapting Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy for Service Members in Post-Deployment

The specific aims of the ABCT_Military project are as follows: 1) To modify the existing, Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT) model to treat service members in the reconstitution (post deployment, reintegration, or separation) stage of service, and develop optional psychoeducation modules to address relevant co-morbid problems and challenges in this population in a weekly, 15 session, stand-alone outpatient format. 2) To test feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the study intervention protocol in a successive cohort design for one cohort of 8 couples and one cohort of 22 couples, with iterative manual revision.

The study staff will screen potential participants over the phone, and arrange Baseline (BL) research interviews for appropriate couples. The couple will meet with the program interviewer for approximately 2 hours. After the BL interview, couples will be scheduled to attend therapy sessions. Couples will complete brief within treatment self-report assessments. Couples will complete a post treatment follow up interview four months after session 1.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 and older;
• Married (or separated with efforts to reconcile) or in a committed relationship (cohabiting, or in an exclusive dating relationship), or significant other (SO) (first, second or third degree relative (including step relative or in-law) or close trusted friend not active in same military branch. The service member only must meet the following inclusion criteria:
• Served or serving in the U.S. Military,
• Current Alcohol Use Disorder diagnosis, or drink at high risk levels as defined by NIAAA (2010)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Either individual is not fluent in the English language.

Exclusion criteria for the service member only:

• Unstabilized Psychotic disorder in past six months

Exclusion criteria for both members of the couple if SO is spouse/romantic partner:

• Either partner is fearful of participating in couple therapy OR either partner suffered severe physical abuse from partner when perpetrator not intoxicated, in past year