Severity of PTSD Symptoms and Its Relationship with Severity of Alcohol-Related Problems in a Sample of Inpatients with Alcohol use Disorder

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms measured with the PTSD Checklist Civilian (PCL-C) version on the severity of alcohol-related problems while controlling for the effects of anxiety and depression in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Method: Participants (n=190) were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory State Subscale (STAI-S), the PTSD Checklist Civilian (PCL-C) Version and the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST). Results: Although severity of the state of anxiety predicted the severity of alcohol-related problems in the first and depression in the second step of a linear regression model, when severity of PTSD symptoms was included in the analysis, it was the only independent variable that predicted the severity of alcohol-related problems while the state of anxiety and depression were no longer predictors. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the severity of PTSD symptoms is related to the severity of alcohol-related problems, independent from severity of state anxiety and depression among inpatients with AUD.