Trial results for a study investigating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in women veterans were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-02-27. The study enrolled 81 participants.
Background
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) frequently co-occur, presenting significant challenges for affected individuals, particularly women veterans. This population may experience unique stressors and require tailored interventions. The study aimed to understand how negative emotion and stress influence behavior, including alcohol use, among women veterans with and without PTSD. It also explored the role of emotion regulation techniques and how reactions to stress might vary across the menstrual cycle, depending on circulating hormone levels. Addressing these intertwined conditions is crucial for improving the overall well-being and recovery of women veterans.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 81 participants. The conditions under investigation included Alcohol Use Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The study explored the effects of a Cognitive Reappraisal Microintervention compared to a Psychoeducation (Control) group. The overall purpose was to learn about the effects of negative emotion and stress on behavior (including alcohol use) among women Veterans, and to examine whether emotion regulation techniques change the association between stress or negative emotion and behavior, as well as how reactions to stress vary across the menstrual cycle.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to changes in alcohol craving and heart rate variability during experimental sessions:
- Change in Alcohol Craving During Experimental Sessions (Units on a Scale):
- For the Cognitive Reappraisal Microintervention group, mean values were 2.87 (Standard Deviation 0.78), 3.18 (Standard Deviation 1.11), and 3.27 (Standard Deviation 1.01).
- For the Psychoeducation (Control) group, mean values were 2.97 (Standard Deviation 0.69), 3.22 (Standard Deviation 0.86), and 3.24 (Standard Deviation 1.02).
- Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) During Experimental Sessions (milliseconds (ms)):
- For the Cognitive Reappraisal Microintervention group, mean values were 47.20 (Standard Deviation 48.96), 108.33 (Standard Deviation 246.57), and 62.69 (Standard Deviation 91.60).
- For the Psychoeducation (Control) group, mean values were 36.64 (Standard Deviation 22.48), 34.82 (Standard Deviation 23.23), and 40.68 (Standard Deviation 30.30).
Key analyses performed using Mixed Models Analysis included:
- One analysis reported a Wilks' Lambda of 0.998 with a p-value of 0.94.
- Another analysis reported a Wilks' Lambda of 0.912.
- A third analysis reported a Wilks' Lambda of 0.996.
- A fourth analysis reported a Wilks' Lambda of 0.978.
What this means
The posted results provide specific measurements for changes in alcohol craving and heart rate variability in women veterans with PTSD and AUD who participated in the study. While the data details mean scores and standard deviations for both the Cognitive Reappraisal Microintervention and Psychoeducation (Control) groups across multiple experimental sessions, one reported Mixed Models Analysis showed a p-value of 0.94, suggesting no statistically significant difference for that specific outcome. The study contributes to understanding the effects of emotion regulation techniques and stress responses in this population, informing future research directions for interventions targeting co-occurring PTSD and AUD.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04393623, titled "Stress, Emotion Regulation, and Alcohol in Women Veterans", were posted on 2026-02-27 on clinicaltrials.gov.