Title: Adapting Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy for Soldiers in Post-Deployment
Dates: 5/15/2014 - 4/30/2017
Funder: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Funding: $3386,423
Co-PI: David Smelson, Psy.D.

Description: This project seeks to adapts and test a well-established civilian Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT) approach to meet the unique needs and challenges facing returning service members from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND). ABCT-Military will deliver existing core sets of (a) abstinence-based, alcohol-related interventions, and (b) couple interventions, but with adaptations to make the treatment palatable and relevant to post-deployment service members. Four new optional models will be developed to address issues exacerbated by and aggravating problem drinking among soldiers and their families following return from theater. The modules are designed to help couples cope with symptoms of: 1. Intimate Partner Violence; 2. Depression; 3. PTSD, and 4.TBI.