Substance Use after Completion of an Intensive Treatment Program with Concurrent Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use among Veterans: Examining the Role of PTSD Symptoms

Objective: Substance use disorders (SUDs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are costly and highly co-occurring diagnoses, particularly among veterans, suggesting a need to understand this comorbidity and effectively treat both disorders among this population. Methods: The current study aimed to examine substance use outcomes among post-9/11 veterans and service members (N = 48) who completed a two-week intensive outpatient program with concurrent treatment for and PTSD using Prolonged Exposure and substance use. Substance use was assessed at two weeks and three months posttreatment. Results: The intensive program had high completion rates and demonstrated decreases in substance use at two weeks and three months posttreatment. Additionally, lower PTSD symptoms at treatment completion were related to less substance use posttreatment. Conclusions: Concurrent intensive treatment of PTSD and SUDs can lead to symptom improvement in a short period of time. Findings support the self-medication model, such that PTSD symptoms at treatment completion were related to substance use at follow-up.