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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol and substance use disorders commonly co-occur and, in combination, present formidable challenges for patients and clinicians. To study simultaneous, integrated treatment of these disorders, investigators randomized a convenience sample of 69 patients with PTSD and alcohol and/or substance use disorder to 12 weeks of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) plus double-blind ≤200 mg/day sertraline or placebo. Almost 90% of participants were alcohol-dependent (mean age, 42; women, 81%; black, 59%; employed, 77%; married, 20%).
CBT was a manual-based, present-oriented treatment called Seeking Safety. It allowed limited probing of trauma memories, instead focusing on the impact of traumas on current fu…