title: Prospective associations among approach coping, alcohol misuse and psychiatric symptoms among veterans receiving a brief alcohol intervention.
abstract: Brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) target alcohol consumption and may exert secondary benefits including reduced depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among non-veteran and veteran populations. This study examined whether approach coping, alcohol misuse, and an interaction of these two factors prior to the administration of a BAI (i.e., baseline) would predict depression and PTSD symptoms 6-months post BAI (i.e., follow-up). Veterans (N=166) received a BAI after screening positive for alcohol misuse during a primary care visit and completed assessments of alcohol misuse, approach coping, and depression and PTSD symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Baseline substance misuse, but not approach coping, significantly predicted depression and PTSD symptoms at follow-up. Approach coping moderated associations between baseline alcohol misuse and psychiatric symptoms: Veterans reporting more alcohol misuse and more (relative to less) approach coping at baseline evidenced fewer psychiatric symptoms at follow-up after accounting for symptoms assessed at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco; Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Electronic address: ashley.e.mason@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ashley E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
authors.forename: Matthew Tyler
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Boden
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Healthcare System; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cucciare
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alcohol misuse; Approach coping; Brief alcohol intervention (BAI); Depression; Veteran