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Review
. 2018;39(2):121-129.
doi: 10.35946/arcr.v39.2.03.

Functional and Psychiatric Correlates of Comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

Elizabeth Straus  1 , Moira Haller  1 , Robert C Lyons  1 , Sonya B Norman  1
Affiliations
Review

Functional and Psychiatric Correlates of Comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

Elizabeth Straus et al. Alcohol Res. 2018.

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are common comorbid conditions that affect large segments of the population. Individuals with comorbid PTSD/AUD face greater clinical and functional stressors than those with diagnoses of either PTSD or AUD alone. The purpose of this article is to review the phenomenology and functional associations of PTSD/AUD and address the common social, occupational, and psychological concerns associated with both disorders. Given the increased problems associated with comorbid PTSD/AUD, clinical and research efforts should focus on targeting functional and psychosocial problems in conjunction with psychiatric symptoms.

Keywords: alcohol use disorder; comorbidity; diagnostic criteria; post-traumatic stress disorder; psychosocial environment.

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Conflict of interest statement

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

References

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