false
OasisLMS
zh-CN,en,fr,de,ja,es
Catalog
35th AM (2025) - Poster Session
Alcohol Use and Risky Decision-Making in Veterans ...
Alcohol Use and Risky Decision-Making in Veterans with Co-occurring AUD and PTSD
Back to course
Pdf Summary
This study investigated how recent alcohol use relates to impulsivity and risky decision-making in U.S. veterans diagnosed with co-occurring Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The sample comprised 151 veterans, primarily male (87.4%) and diverse in race, aged 24-69 years (mean 51.7). Using the Timeline Follow Back method, alcohol consumption over the prior 90 days was recorded alongside baseline neuropsychological assessments, including the Stop Signal Task, Iowa Gambling Task, Delay Discounting task, Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), and self-reported impulsivity measures such as the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11).<br /><br />Key findings revealed that alcohol consumption in the 90 days before study entry significantly predicted higher self-reported impulsivity on the BIS-11, independent of age. However, this prior alcohol use did not predict performance on other objective neuropsychological tasks measuring risky decision-making. Baseline performance on the BART, which assesses risk-taking behavior, was modestly predictive of subsequent alcohol use during the 12-week topiramate treatment trial. Yet, after controlling for age and initial drinking levels, this association diminished.<br /><br />The study underscores the complex relationship between impulsivity, risk-taking, and alcohol use among veterans with AUD and PTSD. Results suggest that while self-reported impulsivity relates to recent alcohol consumption, objective measures of risky decision-making provide limited predictive value once demographic factors are considered.<br /><br />The authors recommend further research exploring additional contributors, including cognitive functioning and demographic variables, to better understand and address risk-taking behaviors in this population. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of nuanced assessment tools to augment treatment strategies for veterans coping with co-occurring AUD and PTSD, given the modest effect sizes and multifaceted influences identified.
Keywords
Alcohol Use Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
U.S. veterans
Impulsivity
Risky decision-making
Timeline Follow Back
Stop Signal Task
Iowa Gambling Task
Balloon Analogue Risk Task
Topiramate treatment
×