@article{ref1,
title="COPE and oxytocin for the treatment of co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder: design and methodology of a randomized controlled trial in U.S. military veterans",
journal="Contemporary clinical trials",
year="2023",
author="Back, Sudie E. and Flanagan, Julianne C. and Killeen, Therese and Saraiya, Tanya C. and Brown, Delisa G. and Jarnecke, Amber M. and Rothbaum, Alex O. and Joseph, Jane and Ana, Elizabeth Santa and de Arellano, Abigail and Shoemaker, Hannah L. and Dixon, Reagan Ashley and Nietert, Paul and Brady, Kathleen T.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Military veterans are at increased risk for developing co-occurring AUD/PTSD, with prevalence rates 2-4 times higher than the general population. Research is needed to develop more effective treatments for this common comorbidity. The current investigation addresses this need by examining the synergistic effects of a novel pharmacotherapy combined with psychotherapy for co-occurring AUD/PTSD among veterans. Accumulating evidence suggests that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is a promising pharmacotherapy to augment psychotherapy for AUD/PTSD. OT targets neurobiological and behavioral dysregulation common to both AUD and PTSD, in particular, corticolimbic connectivity. Human and animal studies show OT reduces alcohol self-administration, tolerance, and withdrawal; enhances fear extinction; and promotes prosocial behaviors. The current study builds on previous work by examining OT among veterans with AUD/PTSD receiving Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure (COPE), an evidence-based integrated treatment. <br><br>METHODS: This paper describes the rationale, design, and methodology of a Stage II, 12-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of intranasal OT (40 IU) versus placebo combined with COPE among veterans (N = 180) with current AUD/PTSD. In addition, the effects of treatment on corticolimbic connectivity will be examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at pre- and post-treatment. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The proposed study will provide new knowledge and mechanistic insights to accelerate research in this understudied area and may lead to improved treatment outcomes for co-occurring AUD/PTSD. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT04523922.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1551-7144",
doi="10.1016/j.cct.2023.107084",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2023.107084"
}