Klaudia Mamełka, Ewa Wojtynkiewicz, Michał Danek, Karolina Głogowska, Maciej Michalak The Relationship Between PTSD and CPTSD Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Clinical and Non-clinical Samples

Abstrakt

Introduction: Contemporary research suggests that early childhood trauma may play a greater role in the development of psychopathology, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), than genetic or social factors. Studies indicate strong associations between trauma and AUD, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being one of the most frequently co-occurring conditions. It is assumed that many individuals with AUD also meet the criteria for complex PTSD (CPTSD). Researchers note that trauma-related symptoms may be masked by, or misinterpreted as, symptoms of AUD, underscoring the need for a careful, multidimensional approach to diagnosing individuals with AUD. The present article reports original research examining the prevalence of PTSD and CPTSD in a clinical sample of patients with AUD, as well as the associations between PTSD, CPTSD, and alcohol use in a non-clinical group.

Material and Methods: The study included 368 participants from a non-clinical sample (age: M = 38.61, SD = 14.79) and 183 patients with AUD (age: M = 44.11, SD = 12.10). The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) and the Problem Drinking Scale were administered.

Results: The findings indicated that the prevalence of probable PTSD was 18% in the non-clinical group and 34% among individuals with AUD, whereas the prevalence of probable CPTSD was 14% and 22%, respectively. Furthermore, in the non-clinical group, and when gender was taken into account, nearly all dimensions of PTSD and CPTSD were associated with higher levels of alcohol use.

Conclusions: The results confirmed a significant association between PTSD and CPTSD symptoms and alcohol use. Moreover, they highlighted the high proportion of individuals with AUD (particularly women) who may meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD or CPTSD. These findings emphasize the need for further research and underscore the importance of integrating trauma-focused interventions into the treatment of AUD.