Reducing Hazardous Drinking Among Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using a Brief Alcohol Intervention and Avoidance-Focused Feedback

This study supplements a one-session personalized drinking feedback intervention with a one-session activity feedback intervention for veterans with symptoms of PTSD and hazardous drinking. Veterans were screened (N=129) and enrolled (N=15) in an open trial to test feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. Veterans completed assessments at baseline and post-intervention (1-month and 3-months). Participants (13.3% women; 40% African American) were recruited through a community in the mid-South. Thirteen participants (86.6%) were retained between the baseline assessment and second intervention session. Descriptive findings from a self-report acceptability questionnaire indicate that elements of this intervention were viewed favorably by a majority of participants. In terms of preliminary efficacy, findings suggest that alcohol consumption is associated with medium to large effect size estimates at the 1-month assessment, as well as the 3-month assessment. PTSD severity was associated with small effect sizes at the 1-month assessment, and trivial effect size estimates at the 3-month assessment. Effect size estimates for theorized mechanisms of change were also noted at the 1-month and 3-month assessments. These findings suggest that this two-session intervention was generally acceptable, feasible, and has the potential to be effective. Therefore, further study of this intervention using a randomized controlled design may be warranted