The current global pandemic raises critically important questions about the ways that heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD) may increase risk for COVID-19 illness and engaging in risk reduction strategies, as well as how uncertainty and stress related to the pandemic and measures to contain it may impact drinking and related outcomes. Our current NIAAA-funded study (Pharmacogenetic Treatment with Anti-Glutaminergic Agents for Comorbid PTSD & AUD; 5R01AA024760) is testing the efficacy of pregabalin in reducing symptoms of AUD and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of mostly low socioeconomic status (SES) African American men and women who have experienced an array of lifetime traumatic events. Over the course of the trial, we have assessed 140 heavy drinkers with a variety of measures of alcohol use, trauma experiences, PTSD and mood symptoms, other substance use, and general functioning (i.e., taking care of oneself, communicating and interacting with others, taking care of work and domestic responsibilities). Further examination of this highly diverse sample has the potential to shed light on the consequences of the pandemic on high-risk community members and the ways that pandemic-related experiences of stress, uncertainty, and social isolation may impact alcohol use and related outcomes. In response to Notice of Special Interest: Availability of Administrative Supplements and Competitive Revision Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) within the Mission of NIAAA (NOT-AA-20-011), we propose to capitalize on this existing research cohort to investigate urgent research questions of significance to the COVID-19 pandemic among an underserved population of participants with comorbid alcohol use and mental health disorders. First, we will collect descriptive data on participants? experiences of COVID-19 illness and engaging in risk reduction practices. This will include experiences with testing, treatment, and hospitalization for COVID-19, as well as engaging in risk reduction practices such as social distancing and wearing masks. Second, we will explore the ways that alcohol use, PTSD symptoms, other substance use, mood symptoms, social support, and general functioning are related to engaging in COVID-19 risk reduction practices. Third, we will compare alcohol use, PTSD symptoms, other substance use, mood symptoms, and general functioning assessed before (prior to February 1, 2020) and after the onset of the pandemic to examine how the pandemic affected these domains. Including measures of functional outcomes offers the opportunity to explore how the pandemic has impacted participants? ability to continue to perform meaningful family and societal roles.
Our current NIAAA-funded study (Pharmacogenetic Treatment with Anti-Glutaminergic Agents for Comorbid PTSD & AUD) has assessed 140 African American heavy drinkers who have experienced an array of lifetime traumatic events with measures of alcohol use, trauma experiences, PTSD and mood symptoms, other substance use, and general functioning. We propose to collect information on this sample related to COVID-19 illness and engaging in risk reduction practices, as well as up to date information on drinking, symptoms, and functioning. Further examination of this sample has the potential to shed light on the consequences of the pandemic on high-risk community members and the ways that pandemic-related experiences of stress, uncertainty, and social isolation may impact alcohol use and related outcomes.
| Johnson, Bankole A (2017) Toward Rational, Evidence-Based, and Clinically Relevant Measures to Determine Improvement Following Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 41:703-707 |
