Associations between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Quality of Life and Alcohol Misuse among UK Veterans
Abstact: Prior research has shown that those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have persistent reductions in quality of life (QoL), and higher rates of alcohol misuse. As such, it is important that we explore QoL and alcohol misuse on PTSD diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between PTSD, QoL and alcohol misuse among United Kingdom (UK) veterans. 163 UK veterans who sought help for a mental health disorder were recruited to take part. Linear regressions were used to assess the association between probable PTSD, QoL and alcohol misuse. Pearson’s correlation analyses were used to assess the relationship between PTSD symptom clusters and QoL domains. We found unadjusted regressions showed evidence that, compared to those without PTSD, those with PTSD had lower QoL scores on physical health, psychosocial, social relationships and environment domains. Adjusting for age, sex, and outcome variables, only associations with the physical health domain and psychosocial domain remained statistically significant. Correlation analyses between PTSD and QoL domains showed the strongest negative correlations between the functional impairment and physical health domain, and between the functional impairment and psychosocial domain. We found that those with probable PTSD had lower QoL and higher alcohol misuse scores.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are an ongoing public health crisis in the United States. A large body of research indicates an urgent need for increased training in SUD research and treatment for trainees in mental health service disciplines. The VA Health Care System is well positioned, as the largest trainer and employer of health service psychologists and other mental health professionals, to address the SUD training gap and serve as a leader in training the upcoming health care workforce. METHOD: To this end, we conducted two pilot studies to (1) examine the feasibility of implementing supplemental SUD training for VA health service trainees, among current VA mental health service providers in psychology, social work, and medical care (N = 37) and (2) the efficacy of a single 2-hour interdisciplinary SUD training seminar for VA health service trainees in mental health (N = 13). The training seminar consisted of several components including lecture, facilitated discussion, and role play, aimed at increasing trainee self-efficacy in assessing and diagnosing SUDs. RESULTS: Findings suggest that current providers are supportive of supplemental SUD training for VA trainees and believe that such training is beneficial for those wishing to pursue a career within the VA Health Care System. Additionally, results suggest that a single session didactic seminar improved trainees' self-reported efficacy in the assessment and referral of veterans diagnosed with SUDs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the above studies support additional feasibility investigations that would pave the way for successful implementation of widespread SUD training programs across the VA Health Care System and beyond. Successful implementation would then serve to reduce the increasingly critical SUD provider shortage, thus leading to significant public health gains.