Treatments for Co-occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorders are common among people with PTSD PTSD and substance use disorders (SUD) are highly comorbid. According to a large national epidemiologic study, 44.6% of individuals with lifetime PTSD also met criteria for an SUD (including alcohol use disorder (1). Individuals who have both disorders have poorer treatment outcomes, more additional psychiatric problems, and more functional problems across multiple domains, including medical, legal, financial, and social, than those with just one disorder (2-5). Per VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines, patients with PTSD and SUD should be offered evidence-based treatment for both disorders. Having one should not be a barrier to receiving treatment for the other. Given the seriousness of this comorbidity, a number of investigators have developed and tested treatments for co-occurring PTSD and SUD. Here we include information on studies designed to improve both conditions.