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
Review
. 2018;39(2):113-120.

The Epidemiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

Nathan D L Smith  1 , Linda B Cottler  1
Affiliations
Review

The Epidemiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

Nathan D L Smith et al. Alcohol Res. 2018.

Abstract

For more than 40 years, research has shown that individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) use alcohol and experience alcohol use disorder (AUD) to a greater degree than those with no PTSD. AUD and PTSD have shown a durable comorbidity that has extended through decades and through changes in disorder definitions. Some research shows that veterans who have experienced PTSD have a high likelihood of developing AUD, perhaps reflecting the self-medication hypothesis. Other research shows that people with substance use disorder are likely to be exposed to traumatic situations and develop PTSD. These two areas of research could represent two separate relationships between PTSD and AUD. Finally, there is still no clear determination of which cluster of PTSD symptoms is most closely associated with AUD.

Keywords: NESARC; alcohol use disorder; epidemiology; post-traumatic stress disorder; veterans.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosure The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

References

    1. Grob GN. Mental Illness and American Society, 1875–1940. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press; 1987.
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1980.
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: Mental Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1952.
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1968. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 3rd ed rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1987.

Publication types

MeSH terms