Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Association With Subsequent Risky and Problem Drinking Initiation

Abstract

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and unhealthy alcohol use are commonly associated conditions. It is unknown whether specific symptoms of PTSD are associated with subsequent initiation of unhealthy alcohol use. Methods: Data from the first 3 enrollment panels (n = 151,567) of the longitudinal Millennium Cohort Study of military personnel were analyzed (2001-2012). Complementary log-log models were fit to estimate whether specific PTSD symptoms and symptom clusters were associated with subsequent initiation of 2 domains of unhealthy alcohol use: risky and problem drinking (experience of 1 or more alcohol-related consequences). Models were adjusted for other PTSD symptoms and demographic, service, and health-related characteristics. Results: Eligible study populations included those without risky (n = 31,026) and problem drinking (n = 67,087) at baseline. In adjusted analyses, only 1 PTSD symptom irritability/anger was associated with subsequent increased initiation of risky drinking (relative risk [RR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001.09) at least 3 years later. Two symptom clusters (dysphoric arousal [RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.111.23] and emotional numbing [RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.221.40]) and 5 symptoms (restricted affect [RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.081.19], sense of foreshortened future [RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.061.18], exaggerated startle response [RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.011.13], sleep disturbance [RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.071.15], and irritability/anger [RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.071.17]) were associated with subsequent initiation of problem drinking. Conclusions: Findings suggest that specific PTSD symptoms and symptom clusters are associated with subsequent initiation of unhealthy alcohol use.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1062278

Entities

People

  • Alyson J. Littman
  • Amber D. Seelig
  • Anna C. Rivera
  • Arthur V. Peterson
  • Charles C. Maynard
  • Edward J. Boyko
  • Emily C. Williams
  • Isabel Gomez Jacobson
  • Jonathan B. Bricker
  • Kara M. Bensley
  • Richard F Armenta
  • Rudolph P. Rull

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Governments
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Mental Disorders
  • Military Personnel
  • National Governments
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health
  • Surveys
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • United States Government

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Mental Health of Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Risk Factors, Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment.