CBT and AA for PTSD and Alcohol Dependence in Veterans
This case analysis examines the treatment of co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence through the lens of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mutual support models such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The paper profiles an African-American female combat veteran whose alcoholism developed within a military context and was compounded by PTSD. It reviews current research on CBT-based interventions — particularly the Seeking Safety model — alongside functional assessment methods and empirical evaluations of AA participation. The analysis concludes by integrating research findings with the subject's recovery trajectory, highlighting the role of interdisciplinary intervention and peer support in achieving long-term sobriety.
- Introduction: Alcoholism, denial, and the need for dual treatment
- Background and Diagnosis: Subject's history, military service, and DSM diagnoses
- Cognitive Behavioral Theories and PTSD-Alcohol Co-morbidity: CBT models including Seeking Safety for co-morbid PTSD
- Cognitive Behavioral Assessment Methods: Functional assessment models targeting behavioral change
- Literature Review: AA and CBT Outcomes: Comparative effectiveness of AA versus CBT interventions
- Integration of Research and Case Analysis: Connecting research findings to subject's recovery
- References: APA-formatted sources cited in the paper
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper effectively grounds its clinical discussion in a concrete case, allowing research findings to be applied meaningfully rather than presented in the abstract.
- It draws on a range of peer-reviewed sources to support each section, demonstrating familiarity with the empirical literature on PTSD, alcoholism, and CBT.
- The structure logically progresses from diagnosis and background through theory, assessment, and comparative outcomes before synthesizing findings — giving the argument a clear arc.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates evidence-based case integration: it does not simply summarize research or describe a case in isolation, but explicitly connects clinical findings — such as Project MATCH abstinence rates and the Seeking Safety model — back to the specific circumstances of the subject's recovery. This technique shows how empirical literature can be used to explain and validate individual treatment outcomes.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction establishing the stakes of alcoholism and dual diagnosis. It then provides a detailed background on the subject's history and formal diagnosis. Two dedicated sections review current CBT theory and assessment methodology before a literature review compares AA and CBT effectiveness. A final integrative section ties the research back to the case, followed by a full reference list formatted in APA style.
Introduction
Alcoholism is a disease that many individuals face, with many suffering in silence. There are a number of persons diagnosed with alcoholism who find it very difficult to accept their condition. The subject of this case analysis was one of those individuals. She vacillated between acceptance and denial and had become powerless to her addiction. She found out firsthand that withdrawal from alcohol abuse has very dire consequences that may cause death if not appropriately treated. Not only is physical treatment required for many alcoholics, but mental health intervention to address the psychological and emotional issues related to the addiction must also be addressed if there is to be real sobriety.
Background and Diagnosis
The subject is an African-American woman who was born into a strict CME family as the only daughter of a minister. She was one of six living children, with five other pregnancies resulting in miscarriage. According to her own account, she came from a highly disciplined, strict moral upbringing. Because of the family's code of conduct, she was forced to marry young, a marriage that did not last. She then began to engage in a lifestyle that was not reflective of her upbringing, drinking heavily and partying (Allen & Mayfield, 1976).
Her drinking worsened when she entered the military. The ability to hold one's liquor was considered a mark of a great soldier — a symbol of one's capacity in handling weapons. Like many other soldiers, she used alcohol to cope with the traumas associated with the stress of battle. She was diagnosed with a variety of mental health disorders including alcohol dependence, alcohol intoxication, and post-traumatic stress disorder according to the DSM-IV-TR. She was able to seek recovery and maintain her sobriety after years of intervention. She needed decorum and dignity for faster recovery (Smith & Schuckit, 2008). She has reportedly been sober since 1968.
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