Upon exposure to trauma, these people will be more likely to develop pathological responses. Such predisposition would help explain why some people develop PTSD after traumatic exposure, with or without SUD, and others do not. Going through a trauma—whether or not you develop PTSD—can lead to alcohol use problems. Up to three quarters of people who survived abuse or violent traumatic events report drinking problems.
What is the relationship between PTSD and substance use disorder (SUD)?
Unlike findings in adult PTSD, where several studies reported hippocampal atrophy 223, maltreated children and adolescents with PTSD or subthreshold PTSD showed no anatomical differences in limbic (hippocampal or amygdala) structures cross-sectionally 119, 203, 205 or longitudinally 224. However, investigators have demonstrated functional brain differences in the amygdala and hippocampus of maltreated youth compared to non-maltreated children 222, 225. One study suggests that hippocampal atrophy may be a latent developmental effect of childhood maltreatment 226. Decreased hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor expression due to epigenetic changes likely increased LHPA activity and enhanced the risk of both depression and suicide in adults who were child abuse victims 101. Patients satisfying either alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence criteria are together defined as having an alcohol use disorder.
Treating Complex Trauma and Addiction
The causes of AUD can be complex and may involve genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Risk factors for developing AUD can include a family history of alcoholism, early initiation of alcohol use, history of trauma or abuse, and mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. Traumatic experiences, early life adversity, a lack of social support, pre-existing mental health conditions, and certain biological factors can all contribute to the development of this disorder.
Causes of complex PTSD
Patients were undergoing treatment for a mean of 54.9 days (SD 47.2), and a great majority of them (86%) were from a rehabilitation center setup. Finally, individual preference is a critical consideration when matching people with treatment modalities. Recovery from co-occurring complex PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a journey that requires a strong support system, effective coping strategies, and relapse prevention techniques. In this section, we will explore how building a strong support system, practicing self-care, and implementing coping strategies can aid individuals in their path to recovery. Additionally, we will delve into the importance of utilizing relapse prevention techniques to maintain long-term sobriety and mental wellness. Let’s uncover the key elements that facilitate healing and growth in the face of these challenging co-occurring disorders.
Causes and Risk Factors for Complex PTSD
When our stress response is activated, we experience hyperarousal, increased blood pressure, rapid heart rate, fast breathing, and a sense of alarm (Burke Harris, 2018; Nakazawa, 2015; van der Kolk, 2014). It usually stems from trauma you experienced in childhood, though it can develop from trauma in adulthood as well. “Since avoidance is one of the hallmark symptoms of PTSD, we can conceptualize substances as another form of avoidance—that I can’t handle confronting this trauma or thinking about it, so I’m going to get away from these painful experiences by using a substance,” Zinzow says.
- CRH stimulates the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by binding to CRH receptors in the anterior pituitary.
- The LHPA axis plays a central role in regulating the body’s response to stress and is the most studied biological stress system in animals and humans.
- This landmark study suggests that children, who experience trauma, have decreased telomere maintenance, a potential mechanism (“premature aging”) for adverse brain development, mental health problems, and chronic health problems in adults with a childhood history of trauma 13, 136.
- Integrated treatment approaches for PTSD and alcohol abuse should address both mental health and substance abuse simultaneously.
- There are a number of additional reasons why Complex Trauma results in more significant problems.
- Research links childhood trauma to negative physical and mental health outcomes.
Although we will highlight studies where longitudinal research is available, more longitudinal research in trauma-exposed children is needed to understand the pediatric mechanisms underlying trauma’s short-term and long-term adverse effects in adolescence and adulthood. We will review the clinical applications of this knowledge and discuss how stress related biomarkers may provide important tools for clinicians and researchers to objectively examine predictors of PTSS and to monitor treatment response. These interventions are flexible and can be applied in individual or group therapy formats. CBTs for AUD focus on the identification and modification of maladaptive cognitions and behaviors that contribute to alcohol misuse.21 Behavioral treatments for people with AUD also target motivation for change and improvement of specific skills to reduce the risk for relapse. The comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) is prevalent, complex, and difficult to treat.
Traumatic experience and post-traumatic symptoms
Today, individuals with co-occurring Complex PTSD and AUD can access support, evidence-based treatments, and resources to enhance their well-being and facilitate their journey towards recovery. By incorporating self-care and coping strategies into their daily lives, individuals can effectively manage their symptoms, improve their overall quality of life, and create a foundation for lasting recovery. Integrated Treatment Programs offer comprehensive care for individuals with co-occurring complex PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). These programs recognize the connection between mental health and substance abuse and address both disorders simultaneously. Integrating treatment approaches that address both complex PTSD and AUD simultaneously is crucial for improving mental health outcomes.
How does complex trauma develop?
However, the CRHR1 haplotype groups (zero or one copy vs. two copies) were not related to internalizing symptoms 85. Trauma studies involving physical head trauma or medical illnesses were not included. Our criteria were that the articles be peer-reviewed and methodologically sound, with emphasis placed on the paucity of longitudinal studies in this field. When reviews were needed to describe ptsd blackouts the foundations of biological stress systems and brain development, meta-analyses or peer-reviewed critical reviews published by known stress researchers were cited.
- In addition, because people with Complex Trauma have often had their development interrupted, they may have lost opportunities.
- Secrecy and shame are common in child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence.
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- Addressing the challenges of co-occurring disorders like Complex PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) requires an evidence-based treatment approach.
Developmental traumatology, the systemic investigation of the psychiatric and psychobiological effects of chronic overwhelming stress on the developing child, provides a framework and principles when empirically examining the neurobiological effects of pediatric trauma. Now researchers estimate that more than 3% of people meet the criteria for complex trauma, also called complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), in the United States. The most effective empirically supported treatment for PTSD, Zinzow says, is cognitive behavioral therapy.