Afzali MH, Sunderland M, Batterham PJ, Carragher N, Calear A, Slade T. Network approach to the symptom-level association between alcohol use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2017;
52:329-339. [PMID:
28013328 DOI:
10.1007/s00127-016-1331-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
The high prevalence of alcohol use disorder among individuals with a history of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder is well documented. The current study applied network analysis to map the structure of symptom associations between these disorders.
METHODS
Data come from a community sample of 449 Australian adults with a history of trauma and alcohol consumption during the last 12 months. Data analysis consisted of the construction of the comorbidity network of PTSD/AUD symptoms, identification of the bridging symptoms, computation of the centrality measures, and evaluation of the robustness of the results.
RESULTS
Results highlighted two main symptom clusters, corresponding to two disorders, and that only nine edges connected the two clusters. Bridging symptoms connecting the two clusters were: alcohol use in dangerous situations, physical or mental health problems as a result of alcohol use, loss of interest or reduced social activities, and reckless/self-destructive behaviour.
CONCLUSIONS
Identification of both central symptoms, because of their key role in the constellation and strong associations with majority of symptoms, and bridge symptoms, because of their mediating role between two disorders, has some implications in terms of self-medication and risk-taking/self-regulation theories of comorbidity and provides a number of clinical implications, which warrants further exploration within clinical samples.
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