Comorbidity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Dependence

Sa？etak Aim: The aim of the research was to examine the extent to which alcohol dependence occurs incomorbidity with PTSD. Methods: The study included 165 respondents hospitalized at the Department of Psychiatry in Osijek. All respondents were previously diagnosed with PTSD. The overall questionnaire was designed specifically for this study, and it included information about age, gender, education, psychological problems, the continuum of treatment, and questions about alcohol consumption. Results: Most of the patients live with their wives and children: 34 (54%) of them from the 2004 study, and 40 (39.2%) of them from the 2014 study. Also, 72.1% of the patients who responded to the questionnaire have family support. The marital status of the patients differed significantly over the years (χ2 test; p = 0.007). Results show that 35.2% consume alcohol daily. Furthermore, there are significantly more patients who don`t consume alcohol with the prescribed therapy (χ2 test; p = 0.042). Conclusion: More than one third of the patients diagnosed with PTSD have alcohol dependence. The number of people diagnosed with PTSD and alcohol dependence increased in 2014 when compared to the 2004 findings, including the number of divorces and the consumption of alcohol with the prescribed therapy. (Batrnek T, Ga？pert M. Comorbidity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Dependence. SEEMEDJ 2018; 2(2); 8-16