Posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, and physical health concerns.
PTSD is a risk factor for alcohol problems and both in turn have been independently associated with increased health problems. However, it is unclear whether alcohol use moderates the relationship between PTSD and health. Participants were battered women (N = 336) recruited from local domestic violence shelters and non-shelter victim-assistance agencies. A 2 (PTSD diagnosis) x 3 (abstainer, infrequent/light, regular/heavy drinking) ANCOVA was conducted, with injuries and length of abuse as covariates and health concerns as the dependent variable. Main effects for PTSD and alcohol use were significant but not the interaction. Women with PTSD reported the greatest number of health concerns. Women who abstained from drinking and those who drank regularly/heavily reported more health concerns than the infrequent/light drinkers. Health concerns associated with PTSD do not appear to be due to problem drinking. In addition, infrequent/light drinking, even for women with PTSD, may be associated with fewer health concerns.
Kaysen
Debra
D
Center for Trauma Recovery, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. dkaysen@u.washington.edu
Pantalone
David W
DW
Chawla
Neharika
N
Lindgren
Kristen P
KP
Clum
Gretchen A
GA
Lee
Christine
C
Resick
Patricia A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires