Alcohol-use disorders NICE update

Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis and management Quality Standard | Update by NICE

Today an updated NICE quality standard has been published which covers identifying and supporting adults and young people (aged 10 and over) who may have an alcohol-use disorder. PTSD UK were grateful to be chosen as stakeholders in this piece of work.

At PTSD UK, we know that improving services and support for people affected by PTSD and C-PTSD is vital. We have personally experienced, and recognise the gaps in the current service provisions for people with PTSD & C-PTSD in the UK, so we work with, and campaign to, the Government, organisations, policies and guidelines relating to the care and awareness of those with the conditions, ensuring that we’re all driving towards the same goal – that PTSD and C-PTSD is recognised, diagnosed and effectively treated as quickly as possible for everyone.

As part of this, we provide consultancy and feedback on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The NHS receives its national guidance on treatments and care from NICE. This internationally respected independent organisation develops guidelines for use in the healthcare system.

NICE clinical guidelines, based on the best evidence available, are designed to help and support healthcare professionals at work and to make the treatment process easier for all concerned. Clinical guidelines fulfil many roles in the healthcare system.

Among other things, they should:

Give healthcare professionals recommendations for the best treatment of patients.
Help to develop standards for assessing healthcare professionals’ clinical practices.
Be used in the process of education and training healthcare professionals.
Enable patients to make better decisions from an informed position.
Improve communication between patients and healthcare professionals.

The most recently published quality standard guideline we’ve been able to successfully impact and influence to support people with PTSD & C-PTSD is ‘Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis and management’ which was published today, and we felt this was an important guideline to be part of as there is significant evidence showing a link between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and alcohol disorders.

In the United Kingdom, research shows that nearly 40% of people with substance misuse disorders, including alcohol, also have PTSD. Moreover, research indicates that those with PTSD are approximately four times more likely to be affected by alcohol-use disorders compared to the general population. Recognising this strong correlation, we’re proud to be actively engaged in advocating for guidelines that encompass comprehensive screening for PTSD or C-PTSD in people with alcohol-use disorders. It is also crucial to ensure that their care delivery takes into account the potential presence of PTSD or C-PTSD and any necessary adjustments required.

You can read the new NICE guideline here.

Being part of the creation of these guidelines for this topic is hugely important. In this, and other guidelines, we’ve been able to recommend better provision of services, faster access to support, early interventions, and make suggestions of how services could be better delivered to support people with PTSD or C-PTSD (in the context of the topics). With the topics we’ve already advised on, we felt we were able to make substantial, insightful recommendations, and positively impact the guidelines that were ultimately created.

We know there is a long way to go before services and treatment access is perfect for people with PTSD and C-PTSD, and we’re committed to making that change happen – but this is a step in the right direction.

“When you take one little step each day, eventually you’ll find that all of these little steps together conquered mountains”. – Nikki Banas

Find out more about how alcohol-use disorders and PTSD & C-PTSD are linked here.

Find out more about what PTSD UK do here. If you’d like to support our work, you can make a donation here (thank you!)

Hello! Did you find this information useful?

Please consider supporting PTSD UK with a donation to enable us to provide more information & resources to help us to support everyone affected by PTSD, no matter the trauma that caused it

PTSD UK Blog

You’ll find up-to-date news, research and information here along with some great tips to ease your PTSD in our blog.

Dealing with PTSD over the holidays

Dealing with PTSD over the holidays Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can cause a whole host of symptoms, which can affect every area of your life, and when this is paired with ‘expectations’ of how you should feel, it can become

Guest Blog – Rod Aungier

The road less travelled and the role of Gestalt therapy – Guest Blog We’ve previously written about benefits of Gestalt Therapy for those with PTSD and C-PTSD. Rod’s personal story in this guest blog sheds light on the transformative power

Dip a Day December Challenge

events | dip a day december PTSD UK’s Dip a Day December Challenge Sign up now PTSD UK’s Dip a day December The challenge It’s no secret that cold water swimming, cold water therapy, focusing on a challenge and simply

Santa in the City Run

PTSD UK Spreads Christmas Cheer with Santa Run Join thousands of Santas on the 6th or 7th of December 2023 at 7:00 pm, in the heart of London for an unforgettable 4.3km festive fun run! Plus, every adult runner is

gestalt therapy

Understanding Gestalt Therapy and its Benefits When it comes to addressing the complicated nature of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, there are a number of therapeutic approaches available. More recently, Gestalt therapy has emerged as a promising

HGV drivers

Driving Change: Tackling PTSD in HGV drivers Despite the crucial role that the UK’s Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driving industry plays in keeping the nation’s supply chain moving, many HGV drivers are experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and

PTSD UK Supporters Store

100% of the profits from everything in our online Supporters Store goes directly to our mission – to help everyone affected by PTSD in the UK, no matter the trauma that caused it.

Treatments for PTSD

It is possible for PTSD to be successfully treated many years after the traumatic event occurred, which means it is never too late to seek help. For some, the first step may be watchful waiting, then exploring therapeutic options such as individual or group therapy – but the main treatment options in the UK are psychological treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Traumatic events can be very difficult to come to terms with, but confronting and understanding your feelings and seeking professional help is often the only way of effectively treating PTSD. You can find out more in the links below, or here.