Citation

Price M, Brier ZMF, Mirhashem R, Allen HC. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018; 189: 187-192.

Affiliation

Center for Research on Emotion, Stress, and Technology, Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Ave, Room 248, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.011

PMID

30049531

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and opioid misuse are commonly co-occurring disorders. Both disorders are associated with deficits in response inhibition; however, these associations have not considered their comorbidity. Response inhibition has not been examined in a sample with comorbid PTSD and opioid misuse. The present study examined the effect of PTSD symptom severity on response inhibition in current and past opioid misusers.

METHODS: Participants were currently (used within the last month) misusing opioids (56.6%) or in recovery (43.4%). All participants met DSM 5 criteria for PTSD. Response inhibition was measured with the stop signal task.

RESULTS: Response inhibition was associated with increased PTSD symptom severity for those in recovery but not among current users. Additionally, across both groups, there were deficits in response inhibition when withholding automatic responses for a threatening stimulus compared to a neutral stimulus.

CONCLUSIONS: PTSD Symptoms may exert a stronger effect on response inhibition among those in recovery as opposed to those who are actively using opioids.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Opioid; PTSD; Response inhibition