Journal of dual diagnosis
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Journal of dual diagnosis · Jan 2015
PTSD and substance use disorder among veterans: characteristics, service utilization and pharmacotherapy.
While there has been considerable concern about veterans with dually diagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid substance use disorders, a national study of clinical characteristics, service utilization, and psychotropic medication use of such veterans in Veterans Affairs (VA) has yet to be conducted. We hypothesized that veterans having both PTSD and substance use disorder would have lower socioeconomic status, greater medical and psychiatric comorbidity, higher medical service utilization, and more psychotropic pharmacotherapy fills. ⋯ Several substantial differences were observed, each of which represented more severe medical and psychiatric illness among veterans with dually diagnosed PTSD and substance use disorder compared to those with PTSD alone. However, effective treatments are available for these disorders and special efforts should be made to ensure that veterans with dual diagnoses receive them.
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Journal of dual diagnosis · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWeb-based acceptance and commitment therapy smoking cessation treatment for smokers with depressive symptoms.
Smokers with depressive symptoms have more difficulty quitting smoking than the general population of smokers. The present study examines a web-based treatment using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for smokers with depressive symptoms. The study aimed to determine participant receptivity to the intervention and its effects on smoking cessation, acceptance of internal cues, and depressive symptoms. ⋯ This was the first study of web-based ACT for smoking cessation among smokers with depressive symptoms, with promising evidence of receptivity, efficacy, impact on a theory-based change process, and possible secondary effects on depression. A fully powered trial of the ACT WebQuit.org intervention specifically for depressed smokers is needed. This was part of a clinical trial registered as NCT#01166334 at www.clinicaltrials.gov .
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Journal of dual diagnosis · Jan 2015
PTSD Symptoms, Emotion Dysregulation, and Alcohol-Related Consequences Among College Students With a Trauma History.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences have been linked to emotion dysregulation. Sex differences exist in both emotion regulation dimensions and alcohol use patterns. This investigation examined facets of emotion dysregulation as potential mediators of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol-related consequences and whether differences may exist across sexes. ⋯ These analyses shed light on processes that may underlie "self-medication" of PTSD symptoms. Gender-specific interventions targeting emotion dysregulation may be effective in reducing alcohol-related consequences in individuals with PTSD. Women may possibly benefit from interventions that focus on difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, while men may benefit from interventions that target impulse control difficulties when upset.
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Journal of dual diagnosis · Jan 2015
Hospital outcomes in major depression among older adults: differences by alcohol comorbidity.
The prevalence of depression in older adults has been increasing over the last 20 years and is associated with economic costs in the form of treatment utilization and caregiving, including inpatient hospitalization. Comorbid alcohol diagnoses may serve as a complicating factor in inpatient admissions and may lead to overutilization of care and greater economic cost. This study sought to isolate the comorbidity effect of alcohol among older adult hospital admissions for depression. ⋯ In older adults, depression with alcohol comorbidity does not lead to increased costs or higher levels of care after discharge. Comorbidity may lead to inpatient hospitalization at lower levels of severity, and depression with alcohol comorbidity may be qualitatively different than non-comorbid depression. Additionally, increased costs and negative outcomes in this population may occur at other levels of care such as outpatient services or emergency department visits.
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Journal of dual diagnosis · Jan 2015
Acceptance and commitment therapy smoking cessation treatment for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study.
Veterans with PTSD smoke at rates two to three times higher than the general population, while their quit rate is less than half that of the general population. The present study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Tobacco Addiction (ACT-PT), which focuses on helping veterans overcome emotional challenges to quitting smoking. ⋯ ACT-PT appears to be a promising smoking cessation treatment for veterans with PTSD. Future research should evaluate ACT-PT in a randomized controlled trial.