Our study has shown that increasing FHD of alcohol dependence in sexual assaultive trauma‐exposed female participants was associated with increased PTSD symptom counts. Nonsexual assaultive trauma was associated with poorer TOLT task performance in our full sample. In the sex‐stratified analysis, this association was only observed in female participants. These findings suggest that specific types of traumatic exposure are more likely to be associated with PTSD and planning and problem‐solving aspects of executive function. Future studies should explore whether any observed poor planning/problem‐solving performance precedes or follows trauma exposure, considering trauma type and sex differences. Further, future studies should investigate whether these aspects of executive function precede or follow PTSD and/or alcohol dependence onset. Understanding the complex etiology of these commonly comorbid disorders may inform early intervention and treatment strategies aimed at reducing the severity and endurance of PTSD and alcohol dependence.
