PTSD, AUD, and Interpersonal Conflict: Within-person Associations

PTSD, AUD, and Interpersonal Conflict: Within-person Associations

The present study seeks to increase understanding of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans, an important public health concern. We will study the effects of regulatory deficits and sleep disturbance on the dynamic course of PTSD and AUD. The study will investigate whether a short, computerized training in the laboratory will alter maladaptive response biases and reduce associations between sleep disturbance, affect and behavioral dysregulation, AUD symptoms, and PTSD symptoms in the real world.

Inclusion Criteria:

• OIF/OEF/OND veterans
• At risk for PTSD (i.e., PCL-5 ≥33) and/or AUD (i.e., AUDIT ≥ 7 (women) ≥ 8 (men))

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychosis or severe Alcohol Use Disorder that contraindicates participation (based on interview)
• Active suicidal or homicidal ideation that contraindicates participation (based on interview)
• [exclusion criteria removed 6/2022] - Severe risk for sleep apnea (a positive score in three categories of the Berlin Questionnaire), or reported treatment for sleep apnea