Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010;3(2):131-147.
doi: 10.1080/17523281003738661. Epub 2010 May 4.

Methodology of a randomized double-blind clinical trial for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence

Edna B Foa  1 , Monnica T Williams
Affiliations

Methodology of a randomized double-blind clinical trial for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence

Edna B Foa et al. Ment Health Subst Use. 2010.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol dependence (AD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are each associated with profound disruptions in psychological, social, and physical functioning, and these disruptions are compounded in individuals with both disorders. Comorbidity between the two disorders is high, with the risk for AD increasing substantially among individuals with PTSD and, conversely, PTSD is highly prevalent among people experiencing AD. AIMS: Given the increased impairment associated with this comorbidity, it is imperative to develop effective treatments for individuals who experience both disorders. METHODS: This paper describes the methodology of a study that examines the efficacy of prolonged exposure therapy alone, naltrexone alone, and their combination compared to pill placebo in reducing the severity of PTSD and alcohol use in individuals with comorbid AD and PTSD. DISCUSSION: Issues related to design, assessment, treatment choice, and challenges posed by the study population are discussed.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Amaya-Jackson L, Davidson JR, Hughes DC, Swartz M, Reynolds V, George LK, et al. Functional impairment and utilization of services associate with post-traumatic stress in the community. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1999;12:709. - PubMed
    1. Anton R, Brady KT, Moak DH. Pharmacotherapy. In: Ott P, Tarter RE, Ammerman RT, editors. Sourcebook on substance abuse: Etiology, epidemiology, assessment and treatment. Allyn & Bacon; Needham Heights, MA: 1999. pp. 303–314.
    1. American Psychiatric Association . DSM-IV-TR: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association; Arlington, VA: 2000.
    1. Balldin J, Berglund M, Borg S, Mansson M, Bendtsen P, Franck J, et al. A 6-month controlled naltrexone study: Combined effect with cognitive behavioral therapy in outpatient treatment of alcohol dependence. Alcoholism, Clinical, and Experimental Research. 2003;27:1142–1149. - PubMed
    1. Baros A, Latham PK, Moak DH, Voronin K, Anton RF. What role does measuring medication compliance play in evaluating the efficacy of naltrexone? Alcoholism, Clinical, and Experimental Research. 2007;31:596–603. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources