Posttraumatic stress symptoms and alcohol problems: self-medication or trait vulnerability?

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSD) and problem alcohol use (ALC) commonly co-occur, but the nature of this co-occurrence is unclear. Self-medication explanations have been forwarded, yet traits such as tendency toward negative emotionality and behavioral disconstraint also have been implicated. In this study we test three competing models (Self-Medication, Trait Vulnerability, Combined Dual Pathway) of PTSD-ALC prospectively in a college sample.

METHOD:

Participants (N=659; 73% female, M age=18) provided data at college matriculation (Time 1) and 1 year later (Time 2).

RESULTS:

Structural equation models showed disconstraint to meditate the path from PTSD symptoms to alcohol problems, supporting a trait vulnerability conceptualization. Findings regarding negative emotionality and self-medication were more mixed. Negative emotionality played a stronger role in cross-sectional than in prospective analyses, suggesting the importance of temporal proximity.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Self-regulation skills may be an important focus for clinicians treating PTSD symptoms and alcohol misuse disorders concurrently.

• Authors: Jennifer P Read, Jennifer E Merrill, Melissa J Griffin, Rachel L Bachrach, Saba N Khan
• Journal: The American journal on addictions (Am J Addict) 2014 Mar-Apr Vol. 23 Issue 2 Pg. 108-16 ISSN: 1521-0391 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25187046 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adolescent Behavior
• Alcohol-Related Disorders (complications, etiology, psychology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry) (psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Models, Psychological
• Personality
• Personality Inventory
• Prospective Studies
• Self Medication (psychology)
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic (complications, psychology)
• Symptom Assessment