Integrated CBT to Improve Functioning in Veterans With Anxiety and Substance Use
Purpose
Individual with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder often use alcohol in ways that could cause them harm. Treating both mental health concerns and alcohol use at the same time can help reduce difficulties engaging in multiple treatments. The investigators are evaluating how a cognitive behavioral therapy program that helps Veterans with anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol use at the same time can help improve the participants lives.
Conditions
- Anxiety Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Hazardous Drinking
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Over 18 Years
- Eligible Genders
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- meeting diagnostic criteria for current anxiety disorder and - endorsing hazardous alcohol use
Exclusion Criteria
- need for acute medically-supervised detoxification with exclusionary criteria of - high-risk suicidality - psychotic symptoms, or - cognitive impairment that could interfere with engagement in weekly psychotherapy
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Intervention Model Description
- Participants will be randomized to receive the intervention or a control intervention.
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental UP-A |
Cognitive behavior therapy using the Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders with supplemental skills-based alcohol modules. |
|
|
Active Comparator Problem Solving therapy |
Skills based approach for managing negative moods and stress. |
|
Recruiting Locations
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
Detailed Description
Co-occurring hazardous drinking, anxiety disorders, and PTSD are problematic combinations of mental health concerns experienced by deployed Veterans. Veterans who have been deployed are at particular risk for experiencing problems in functioning and reintegration related to mental health disorders and hazardous drinking. Co-occurring anxiety and hazardous drinking heavily impact psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Although cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can promote psychological recovery through improvements in functioning and quality of life, most CBT protocols do not address co-occurring disorders, leading to inefficient and disjointed treatment. The current research seeks to adapt and test the Unified Protocol (UP) for deployed Veterans with hazardous drinking. The use of combined CBT for both anxiety disorders and hazardous drinking has the potential to more efficiently and effectively improve functioning, reduce symptoms, and promote psychosocial recovery.
