Citation

Weiss NH, Tull MT, Sullivan TP, Dixon-Gordon KL, Gratz KL. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015; 155: 147-153.

Affiliation

University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. Electronic address: klgratz@aol.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.679

PMID

26278196

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among inpatients with substance use disorders (SUDs) is associated with heightened engagement in a variety of risky, self-destructive, and health-compromising behaviors (e.g., risky sexual behavior, aggression). Extant research provides support for the role of emotion dysregulation in the PTSD-risky behavior relation among inpatients with SUD; however, this research has been limited by a focus on emotion dysregulation involving negative (versus positive) emotions. The goal of the current study was to extend past research on the PTSD-risky behavior relation by examining the potential mediating roles of negative and positive urgency (two domains of emotion dysregulation defined by the tendency to engage in risky behavior in the context of negative and positive emotions, respectively).

METHODS: Participants were 158 trauma-exposed inpatients with (n=91) and without (n=67) lifetime PTSD consecutively admitted to a residential SUD treatment facility (M age=34.34; 59.5% White, 50.6% female). Patients were administered diagnostic interviews and completed self-report questionnaires.

RESULTS: Significant positive associations were found among lifetime PTSD symptoms, negative and positive urgency, and risky behaviors. Moreover, findings revealed significant indirect effects of lifetime PTSD symptoms on risky behaviors through the pathways of both negative and positive urgency.

CONCLUSIONS: Results provide initial support for the mediating roles of both negative and positive urgency in the PTSD-risky behavior relation, highlighting the potential utility of teaching trauma-exposed inpatients with PTSD-SUD skills for tolerating negative and positive emotional states without engaging in maladaptive behaviors.

Language: en