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Network analysis of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol misuse in treatment-seeking UK Armed Forces veterans
  1. Natasha Biscoe,
  2. J Baumann and
  3. D Murphy
  1. Research Department, Combat Stress, Leatherhead, UK
  1. Correspondence to Natasha Biscoe, Combat Stress, Leatherhead, KT22 0BX, UK; natasha.biscoe{at}combatstress.org.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/military-2022-002329

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    Compared with the general population, UK Armed Forces veterans face an increased risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol misuse and both disorders together. Individuals with comorbid alcohol use and PTSD use outpatient and mental health services more frequently and have poorer treatment outcomes than those with PTSD only.1 Understanding the overlap between PTSD and alcohol misuse is therefore clinically relevant.

    A network analysis reveals the complex symptom level interactions between and within disorders and may therefore help explain comorbidity. Bridging symptoms are those which exhibit strong connections with symptoms of another disorder. Previous network analyses of comorbid alcohol misuse and PTSD have observed bridging symptoms between PTSD symptoms reckless behaviour and alcohol use,2 as well as avoidance, hypervigilance …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors DM conceptualised the study and analysis. NB and JB drafted the manuscript. All authors reviewed the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.