Application Of The Stressor Vulnerability Model To Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (ptsd) And Alcohol-related Problems In An Undergraduate Population
alcohol use disorder; differential role; events; exposed college-students; gender differences; identification test; physical abuse; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); problem drinking; Psychology; refusal self-efficacy; social support; stressor; Substance Abuse; substance use; traumatic; vulnerability model
Research examining the comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol-use disorder (AUD) suggests that individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms (PTSS) often drink alcohol as a means to self-medicate their trauma symptoms; however, little attention has been given to moderating variables that may make this association more likely. The stressor vulnerability model proposes that being male, relying on maladaptive forms of coping, and holding positive alcohol-outcome expectancies predispose individuals to engage in alcohol use when experiencing psychological distress. In the current study, sex, avoidance coping (AVC), tension-reduction expectancies (TRE), and emotional-relief drinking-refusal self-efficacy. (ERDRSE) were examined as moderators of the relationship between PTSS and alcohol-related problems in a sample of 144 undergraduates. Results indicated that males reporting high levels of TRE exhibited a stronger positive relationship between PTSS and alcohol-related problems than was present for males reporting low levels of TRE and for females reporting either high or low levels of TRE. In addition, a significant positive relationship between PTSS and alcohol-related problems was observed for individuals reporting high levels of TRE and low levels of ERDRSE, but not for individuals reporting high levels of TRE and high levels of ERDRSE, low TRE-low ERDRSE, or low TRE-high ERDRSE. Assessment of these vulnerability factors in traumatized youth and young adults may serve as a useful means of identifying individuals at risk for the development of alcohol-related problems.
Hruska B; Delahanty D L
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
2012
2012-12
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1037/a0027584" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1037/a0027584</a>
PTSD, Depression, and Substance Use in Relation to Suicidality Risk among Traumatized Minority Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth
adolescents; alcohol-consumption; behavior; bullying; depression; Health; LGB; posttraumatic-stress-disorder; Psychiatry; Psychology; PTSD; service use; sexual minority; substance use; suicide; united-states; victimization; young-adults
Youths who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) are more likely than heterosexuals to commit suicide. Substance use, PTSD, and depression are independent risk factors for suicidality; however, the extent to which these factors interact to predict suicidality is unclear. The current study examined the association between substance use, PTSD symptoms (PTSS), depressive symptoms, and suicidality in a sample of 68 traumatized minority LGB youths. Participants were recruited from an LGBT community center and completed a packet of questionnaires. Substance use and depressive symptoms were positively associated with prior suicide attempts. A significant three-way interaction revealed that substance use interacted with both PTSS and depressive symptoms to increase the odds of attempted suicide. Results underscore the importance of integrating substance use components into PTSD/depression treatment to reduce suicide risk in LGB youth.
Smith B C; Armelie A P; Boarts J M; Brazil M; Delahanty D L
Archives of Suicide Research
2016
2016-01
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2015.1004484" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1080/13811118.2015.1004484</a>
The Impact of Prolonged Exposure on PTSD Symptoms and Associated Psychopathology in People Living with HIV: A Randomized Test of Concept
antiretroviral; Biomedical Social Sciences; comorbidity survey; depression; depressive symptoms; disease progression; disorder; Environmental & Occupational Health; human-immunodeficiency-virus; intervention; medication adherence; national; People living with HIV; Posttraumatic stress; posttraumatic-stress-disorder; Prolonged exposure; psychiatric-disorders; Public; substance use; therapy; traumatic events
People living with HIV (PLWH) report elevated levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and associated comorbidities. The present study tested the efficacy of prolonged exposure (PE) at reducing PTSS, depression, negative posttraumatic cognitions, and substance use in PLWH. Participants were randomly assigned to receive PE ( = 40) or to a weekly monitoring control group ( = 25). Assessments occurred at baseline, post-intervention and 3-months post-treatment. Following the 3-month assessment, controls were offered the intervention. All PE recipients (whether originally from the PE or control group) completed a 6-month assessment. Intent-to-treat mixed model repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted through 3-months post-treatment; within group analyses were conducted through 6-months. PE recipients reported fewer PTSS and negative posttraumatic cognitions and were more likely to achieve good end-state functioning; gains were maintained at 6-months. No between-group differences emerged for substance use. Overall, results support the efficacy of PE in PLWH.
Pacella M L; Armelie A; Boarts J; Wagner G; Jones T; Feeny N; Delahanty D L
Aids and Behavior
2012
2012-07
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0076-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1007/s10461-011-0076-y</a>
Improving our understanding of the relationship between emotional abuse and substance use disorders: the mediating roles of negative urgency and posttraumatic stress disorder
detoxification; emotional abuse; negative urgency; PTSD; Substance use
Background: Emotional abuse is associated with an increased risk for substance use disorders (SUDs) as well as with negative urgency and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a subsequent trauma. Both negative urgency and PTSD are key contributors to the relationship between emotional abuse and SUDs when examined separately. A comprehensive model including both factors can inform models of PTSD-SUD comorbidity. Furthermore, the comparison of these mechanistic roles in emotional versus other types of abuse can shed light on the specificity of these effects. Objectives: The present study tested whether negative urgency and PTSD symptom severity serially mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and substance use across two separate samples. Method: Participants were recruited from a detoxification center and completed a battery of surveys examining abuse history, PTSD symptom severity, and impulsivity measures including negative urgency and substance use history during the last 3 months. The samples consisted of predominantly (59% and 62%) males with an average age of 35 (age range: 18-65). The majority of participants (90% and 93%) were Caucasian. Results: Study 1 (N = 368) and Study 2 (N = 274) both found that negative urgency and PTSD symptom severity serially mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and substance use. When comparing indirect effects, both contributed equally. Conclusion: These findings suggest that negative urgency and PTSD symptom severity together account more for the link between emotional abuse and SUDs than either alone and argue for the inclusion of negative urgency in models of PTSD-SUD comorbidity.
Junglen Angela; Hruska Bryce; Jensen Tammy; Boros Alec; Delahanty Douglas L
Substance Use & Misuse
2019
1905-07
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2019.1594905" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1080/10826084.2019.1594905</a>