ABSTRACT
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are two disorders that frequently co-occur, as supported by research with both clinical and community samples (Breslau, Davis, & Schultz, 2003; Driessen et al., 2008; Gielen, Havermans, Tekelenburg, & Jansen, 2012; Jacobsen, Southwick, & Kosten, 2001; Kerfoot, Petrakis, & Rosenheck, 2011; Reed, Anthony, & Breslau, 2007). Comorbid PTSD/SUD is generally associated with worse clinical outcomes than either disorder alone. Currently, there are several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved medications for PTSD and several for particular SUD, including alcohol use disorders (AUD) and opioid use disorders (OUD). However, there are no well-established, evidence-based pharmacological treatments for comorbid PTSD/SUD, and more research in this area is critically needed.
