PTSD and Alcohol Couples Treatment for Veterans

This study is testing a new approach for Veterans dealing with both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). It combines an individual therapy called COPE with a couples therapy called B-FIT. The goal is to see if involving a significant other in treatment can help Veterans improve their AUD symptoms and relationships. You would participate in 12 individual COPE sessions and 3-4 couples sessions with your partner. The study aims to understand if this combined treatment is acceptable to participants and easy to deliver. This study is currently recruiting 80 participants (40 couples).

Study design: This is an interventional study planning to enroll 80 participants (40 couples). It is testing a combined therapy approach.
What's involved: Veterans will have 12 individual COPE sessions. Veterans and their significant others will have 3-4 couples sessions of B-FIT.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: The study measures how acceptable the intervention is at 12 weeks and the number of sessions attended from baseline to 12 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

PTSD and Alcohol Couples Treatment for Veterans

Not Yet Recruiting

EARLY_PHASE1Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment

VA Office of Research and Development

~80 participants

Updated 2026-02-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:COPE + BFIT

At a glance

Recruiting sites

0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Acceptability of Intervention to Participants (Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire)

Measured over at 12 weeks

+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

PTSD, AUD

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

South Carolina1

Study leadership

Sarah T Giff, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC

Who to contact

Sarah T Giff, PhD

[email protected]

(843) 789-7311

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Any gender or sexual identity; any race or ethnicity

Married, cohabiting for at least 6 months, or in a committed relationship for at least 6 months and both partners are willing to participate.

The Veteran meets current or past-year DSM-5 diagnostic status for both PTSD (assessed via CAPS-5) and AUD (assessed via the Quick Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5)

Concurrent substance use disorders are acceptable provided that alcohol is the Veteran's primary substance of choice

Must demonstrate cognitive functioning sufficient to provide informed consent and participate accurately (=\>26 on the Mini-Mental State Exam \[MMSE\])

Participants taking psychotropic medications will be required to be maintained on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks before study initiation

Not currently enrolled in couple therapy

U.S. military Veteran

Enrolled, or is willing to become enrolled, in VA healthcare

Not attending trauma-focused therapy during the intervention period

Exclusion

History of moderate, severe, or unilateral violence in the relationship in the past year as measured by the CTS-2

Either partner demonstrates a need for a higher level of care as assessed by the Quick Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (QuickSCID)

i.e., history of or current psychotic or bipolar disorders, current severe drug use disorder, or concerns about alcohol withdrawal as demonstrated by a score \>8 on the CIWA-Ar)

Either partner reports current suicidal or homicidal ideation and intent or prior intent or attempt in the past 6 months as assessed by the CSSRS and PHQ-9 item 9

The Veteran's SO cannot have substance use problems as indicated by a score \< 8 on the AUDIT and QuickSCID

What this trial measures

Acceptability of Intervention to Participants (Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire)at 12 weeks
Veterans and Significant Others will report on their satisfaction with the adapted B-FIT intervention using the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ). Scores range from 1-4 and higher scores are indicative of greater satisfaction.
Feasibility of Intervention (Number of Sessions Attended)Baseline to 12 weeks
Feasibility of the adapted B-FIT intervention will be measured by number of sessions attended by each participant.

Trialytics