Couple-Based Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

- Veteran must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV;
American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for current (past 12 months) alcohol
abuse or dependence and alcohol must be the Veteran's primary substance of abuse as
determined by a clinical algorithm (Fals-Stewart, Stappenbeck et al, 2004);

- Veteran must meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past month) PTSD;

- Veteran consumed alcohol in the past 90 days;

- couple must be married to or living with their current partner for at least 1 year;

- Veteran agrees to a goal of abstinence from drugs at least for the duration of the
15-week study-based treatment;

- Veteran agrees to the goal of abstaining from alcohol or consuming alcohol within low
risk drinking guidelines during the duration of the 15-week study-based counseling;

- Veteran agrees to forego other treatment for alcohol-related disorders except for
self help meetings (e.g., AA) or treatment required for a clinical emergency or
clinical deterioration for the duration of the 15-week study based treatment;

- Veteran agrees to forgo other PTSD treatment except for treatment required for a
clinical emergency or clinical deterioration for the duration of the 15-week study
based treatment;

- couple agrees to forgo other couple-based counseling for the duration of the 15-week
study based treatment except for treatment required for a clinical emergency or
clinical deterioration;

- partner does not meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past 12 month) substance use
disorder (other than nicotine)

- partner does not meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past month) PTSD.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Veteran has dependence on alcohol or other drugs that requires inpatient treatment or
medical detoxification (as indicated by daily heavy use or use to prevent or deal
with withdrawal symptoms) - after completing detoxification, Veteran may be eligible
for the study;

- Veteran or partner are at immediate risk for suicide or homicide (current plan or
intent);

- Veteran or partner exhibit a history of suicide or homicide attempt in the past year;

- Veteran is participating in a methadone maintenance or suboxone maintenance program
and is seeking treatment for adjunctive outpatient services;

- Veteran or partner meets DSM-IV criteria for a current organic mental disorder,
schizophrenia, delusional (paranoid) disorder, or any of the other psychotic
disorders.