Citation

Herrold AA, Jordan N, High WM, Babcock-Parziale J, Chambers RA, Smith B, Evans CT, Li X, Mallinson T, Jenkins S, Pape TL. J. Rehabil. Res. Dev. 2014; 51(9): 1397-1410.

Affiliation

Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines, Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital, Hines, IL;

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

DOI

10.1682/JRRD.2013.07.0170

PMID

26736027

Abstract

Mental health disorders (MHDs), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are endemic among recent Veterans, resulting in a population with heterogeneous, co-occurring conditions. While alcohol craving negatively affects rehabilitation and leads to relapse, no studies have examined alcohol craving among Veterans with co-occurring MHDs and mTBI. The purpose of this preliminary cohort study is to describe alcohol craving in a convenience sample of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (n = 48), including those exposed to traumatic events and experiencing active symptoms. Veterans completed weekly telephone interviews that included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, consumption questions (AUDIT-C) (week 1) and the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) (weeks 1-6). Sixty percent of the sample screened positive on the AUDIT-C for probable AUD. Using Rasch analysis, the person separation reliability of the PACS was strong (0.87) among AUDIT-C positive Veterans. Higher PACS scores were reported among AUDIT-C positive versus AUDIT-C negative Veterans (mixed effects analysis, p < 0.001). PACS scores were higher among AUDIT-C positive Veterans with MHDs with and without mTBI versus AUDIT-C positive combat comparison Veterans (pairwise comparison, p < 0.001). Rates of hazardous alcohol use are high among Iraq and Afghanistan conflict Veterans and suggest that alcohol craving is elevated among those with MHDs with and without mTBI.

Language: en