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The substance abuse strategies for treatment do not differ substantially from strategies offered to single diagnosis patient, but corresponding and concurrent therapies should be offered to treat the unique symptoms of PTSD. Cognitive behavioral "exposure" therapy, in which patients learn to confront their fears and memories of trauma are often used to lessen symptom severity. Cognitive skills education also teaches PTSD addicts how to manage and assess symptoms of the disorder.

Medications such as SSRI anti depressants are often used to decrease symptoms severity and decrease the likelihood of alcohol or drug relapse.

Aftercare therapies need to be maintained at a relatively intensive level, as PTSD symptoms often seem worse through the initial months of abstinence and sobriety, and are a significant threat to recovery and relapse.

http://www.choosehelp.com/topics/mental ... ohol-abuse

The cause-consequence controversy involving psychopathology and substance use/abuse is reviewed and critiqued. In contrast, clinical observations and empirical studies that focus on painful affects and subjective states of distress more consistently suggest that such states of suffering are important psychological determinants in using, becoming dependent upon, and relapsing to addictive substances. Subjective states of distress and suffering involved in motives to self-medicate with substances of abuse are considered with respect to nicotine dependence and to schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder comorbid with a substance use disorder.

Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10 ... 9709030550

This book explores the underdiagnosed connection between drug use and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients with trauma-related distress such as PTSD often use alcohol and drugs in a problematic manner classifiable as substance use disorder (SUD). By not recognizing the connection between symptoms, providers frequently misdiagnose or do not fully attend to SUD-PTSD comorbidity. This book presents research on how often the two disorders co-occur and why. Authors describe the self-medication model and explore how specific PTSD and substance use symptoms are functionally related to each other. In addition, they suggest assessment approaches and practice guidelines to facilitate proper diagnosis and treatment. Particularly valuable are descriptions of several new treatment approaches that have been developed specifically for SUD-PTSD, including cognitive-behavioral and exposure therapy (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2002-06114-000/

A national sample of adult women was screened for a history of serious physical assault in childhood, major depressive episode, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. Approximately 2.6% reported having experienced serious assaults in childhood, with fathers and stepfathers identified as having been the most frequent offenders. Compared to women reporting no such victimization, these women experienced more lifetime and current episodes of depression, posttraumatic stress, and substance abuse.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 4/abstract

PTSD and alcohol use problems are often found together. This pairing can be big trouble for the trauma survivor and his or her family.

People with PTSD are more likely than others with the same sort of background to have drinking problems. By the same token, people with drinking problems often have PTSD. Those with PTSD have more problems with alcohol both before and after getting PTSD. Having PTSD increases the risk that you will develop a drinking problem.

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/pts ... ol-use.asp