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A Case Study of Meditation to Reduce Alcohol Use Disorder Symptomology in Veteran PTSD Comorbidity

Craig Cameron Hicks

Eat, Sleep, Work April 20, 2017 DOI: 10.21913/jdrssesw.v2i1.1337 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population Military veteran with PTSD and alcohol comorbidity
Intervention Meditation
Duration 2-week intervention
Topics Addiction Meditation PTSD
Key findings Meditation reduced PTSD symptomology but showed only a non-significant moderate correlation with reduced alcohol consumption.

Abstract

Background: Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol comorbidity is becoming a rising issue within the military veteran community highlighted by research indicating individuals diagnosed with PTSD are more likely to have a drinking problem [1]. The implementation of meditation as an alternative form of stress release was aimed at reducing PTSD symptomology and therefor reducing factors that lead to drinking.Methods: A single veteran was recruited to complete a two-week intervention. The participant completed a behavioural diary noting alcohol consumption and mood respectively. During the middle of the study, an interview was undertaken to determine reasons of alcohol consumption and potential reasons and motivations for the cessation of drinking.Results: A moderate correlation between using meditation as a tool to reduce alcohol consumption in veterans with PTSD however this was not significant. Conversely, meditation was able to reduce PTSD symptomology.Conclusions: These results indicate that an alternative to drinking can be implemented as a successful form of treatment. However, these findings are specific to this study and need to be amplified and reproduced to determine if it can be applied to the general population.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on PTSD, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Combining Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD with 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): A Case Example. One couple with PTSD and a severe trauma history, participating in a pilot trial... 2019 Case study n = 2
Effects of intranasal (S)-ketamine on Veterans with co-morbid treatment-resistant depression and PTSD: A retrospective case series Veterans with co-morbid depression and PTSD 2022 Retrospective case series n = 35
Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder Patients with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid PTSD 2023 Case series n = 5
Treatment of nightmares in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder A client with chronic, severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2010 Case study n = 1
5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study 23-year-old female with chronic refractory PTSD 2023 Case study n = 1

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