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Byllesby BM, Palmieri PA. The association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity and distress tolerance in traumatic stress treatment. J Trauma Stress 2024. [PMID: 39137125 DOI: 10.1002/jts.23092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Distress tolerance, or the perceived ability to tolerate negative emotional states, is often associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such that higher distress tolerance is generally associated with less severe PTSD symptom levels. As distress tolerance is often considered a risk and maintenance factor in distress disorders, examining the association between changes in distress tolerance and changes in PTSD symptoms may have clinical relevance. The present study examined the associations between PTSD symptom severity and distress tolerance across three assessment points over 12 weeks among 212 patients receiving outpatient psychotherapy services. Using random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM), concurrent and prospective associations between PTSD and distress tolerance were examined. PTSD symptoms at Time 1 and Time 2 significantly predicted distress tolerance at Time 2, β = -.296, and Time 3, β = -.395, respectively. Distress tolerance did not predict subsequent PTSD symptom severity. Exploratory analyses examined distress tolerance and four PTSD symptom clusters over time. Patterns of results differed across clusters, though it was consistent that only PTSD symptom clusters predicted subsequent distress tolerance and not vice versa. The results support the interrelationship of changes in psychopathology and emotional distress tolerance and indicate that distress tolerance may be an important factor in symptom remission during PTSD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna M Byllesby
- Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
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2
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Lopez MM, Naragon-Gainey K, Conway CC. Defining distress tolerance in a structural model of Big Five personality domains. J Pers 2024. [PMID: 38829002 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Distress tolerance (DT)-willingness to face internal discomforts-has a fuzzy boundary with neuroticism (low emotional stability), raising questions about its independent role in models of personality and mental health. METHOD We investigated DT's overlap with neuroticism and other Big Five factors in a structural model of personality and personality disorder features in samples of university students (N = 1025), emotional disorder patients (N = 225), and substance-use patients (N = 210). RESULTS In exploratory factor analyses, we found that DT indicators clustered with neuroticism and were essentially unrelated to other Big Five domains. Big Five personality dimensions collectively explained approximately 40%-70% of variation in DT, across different samples and methods of quantifying shared variance. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that DT and neuroticism are near neighbors in empirical space and speculate that much of the observed correlation between DT and mental health outcomes in the literature may be carried by shared neuroticism variance. We suggest that clearer distinctions between the two constructs in empirical research could improve our understanding of DT's unique role in the development and treatment of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Martin Lopez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Kristin Naragon-Gainey
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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3
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Garey L, Smit T, Clausen BK, Redmond BY, Obasi EM, Businelle MS, Zvolensky MJ. Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Tolerance in Relation to Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Among Black Individuals Who Smoke. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2024; 85:244-253. [PMID: 38095261 PMCID: PMC10941823 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.23-00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Black individuals who smoke in the United States experience significant tobacco-related disparities. Although prior work has established that smoking abstinence expectancies play an important role in smoking-related outcomes, few studies have examined potential individual difference factors that may be relevant to smoking abstinence expectancies among Black individuals who smoke. The present study investigated anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance in relation to smoking abstinence expectancies among a sample of Black individuals who smoke. METHOD Participants were 86 Black adults who smoke cigarettes daily (M age = 46.07 years, SD = 10.37; 26.7% female). Four separate linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relation between anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, and their interaction with each of the four smoking abstinence expectancies (i.e., somatic symptoms, positive consequences, harmful consequences, and negative mood). RESULTS Results indicated that higher anxiety sensitivity was related to higher somatic symptoms, harmful consequences, and negative mood abstinence expectancies, whereas distress tolerance was related to higher positive consequences. Further, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance interacted to confer greater expectancies for the positive consequences of quitting. CONCLUSIONS The current findings are among the first to document that anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance are clinically relevant factors to consider when tailoring smoking cessation treatments for Black individuals who smoke. Future research is needed to examine distress tolerance and anxiety sensitivity as longitudinal predictors of smoking abstinence expectancies among Black individuals who smoke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorra Garey
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Tanya Smit
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | - Ezemenari M. Obasi
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
- Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Michael S. Businelle
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Michael J. Zvolensky
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Grove AB, Green BA, Kaye SM, Sheerin CM. A Narrative Commentary on the Use of a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy-Informed Group to Address Irrational Beliefs, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Comorbidities. Brain Sci 2024; 14:129. [PMID: 38391704 PMCID: PMC10886947 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14020129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Irrational beliefs of Demandingness, Catastrophizing, Low Frustration Tolerance, and Depreciation have demonstrated prevalence in disparate areas of life, including psychopathology, the military, politics, religion, and education. Individuals with mental health concerns, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), endorse elevations in such thoughts compared to the general population. This commentary describes the rationale for focusing on irrational beliefs in efforts to address PTSD and presents the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)-Informed Group for PTSD as a potential novel application of a well-established intervention. In support of these suggestions, we present a narrative review of the published work on irrational beliefs and REBT tenets as relevant for PTSD. We then introduce and describe the REBT-Informed Group intervention, summarize the prior preliminary research conducted by our group, and present some novel data from a re-analysis of this prior work. We end with commentary related to future directions of REBT approaches for PTSD to address limitations and expand the impact of the treatment to military and other Veteran or civilian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen B Grove
- Central Virginia Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - Brooke A Green
- Central Virginia Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - Savannah M Kaye
- Central Virginia Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - Christina M Sheerin
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Caiado B, Santos D, Pereira B, Góis AC, Canavarro MC, Moreira H. The Factorial Structure, Psychometric Properties and Sensitivity to Change of the Distress Tolerance Scale for Children with Emotional Disorders. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:115. [PMID: 38255428 PMCID: PMC10814728 DOI: 10.3390/children11010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) was adapted for American and Chinese youth, but never for European youth. Moreover, the factor structures found in these previous studies were not consistent. METHODS The DTS was adapted for Portuguese children and then validated among 153 children aged 6-13 years with emotional disorders. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted; the DTS reliability and validity were analyzed, and sex and age differences were explored. A sub-sample of children who received a transdiagnostic CBT (Unified Protocol for Children) was used to analyze the DTS's sensitivity to therapeutic change. RESULTS The five tested models (based on previous studies) exhibited adequate fit in the CFA. However, the model previously reported for use in American children with emotional disorders was selected as the most appropriate. The DTS demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, and its validity was established through significant negative associations with measures of anxiety, depression and negative affect, as well as positive associations with positive affect. Age and sex differences were discussed. The DTS scores significantly increased from pre- to post-treatment, demonstrating sensitivity to therapeutic change. CONCLUSIONS The DTS is a suitable and useful measure for assessing children's distress tolerance and to assess the efficacy of CBT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Helena Moreira
- Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (B.C.); (D.S.); (B.P.); (A.C.G.); (M.C.C.)
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Fereidooni F, Daniels JK, D Krause-Utz A, Hagenaars MA, Smeets T, Heins J, Dorahy MJ, Emmerik AAPV, de Jong PJ, Hoekstra S, Warrens MJ, Lommen MJJ. Childhood maltreatment and adulthood victimization: An evidence-based model. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 167:46-62. [PMID: 37832203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
There is ample evidence showing that childhood maltreatment increases two to three fold the risk of victimization in adulthood. Various risk factors, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, dissociation, self-blame, and alcohol abuse are related to revictimization. Although previous research examined associations between risk factors for revictimization, the evidence is limited and the proposed models mostly include a handful of risk factors. Therefore, it is critical to investigate a more comprehensive model explaining the link between childhood maltreatment and adulthood (re)victimization. Accordingly, this study tested a data-driven theoretical path model consisting of 33 variables (and their associations) that could potentially enhance understanding of factors explaining revictimization. Cross-sectional data derived from a multi-wave study were used for this investigation. Participants (N = 2156, age mean = 19.94, SD = 2.89) were first-year female psychology students in the Netherlands and New Zealand, who responded to a battery of questionnaires and performed two computer tasks. The path model created by structural equation modelling using modification indices showed that peritraumatic dissociation, PTSD symptoms, trauma load, loneliness, and drug use were important mediators. Attachment styles, maladaptive schemas, meaning in life, and sex motives connected childhood maltreatment to adulthood victimization via other factors (i.e., PTSD symptoms, risky sex behavior, loneliness, emotion dysregulation, and sex motives). The model indicated that childhood maltreatment was associated with cognitive patterns (e.g., anxious attachment style), which in turn were associated with emotional factors (e.g., emotion dysregulation), and then with behavioral factors (e.g., risky sex behavior) resulting in revictimization. The findings of the study should be interpreted in the light of the limitations. In particular, the cross-sectional design of the study hinders us from ascertaining that the mediators preceded the outcome variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Fereidooni
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Judith K Daniels
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Anne D Krause-Utz
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, the Netherlands
| | | | - Tom Smeets
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands
| | - Jenna Heins
- Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Martin J Dorahy
- Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - Peter J de Jong
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Steven Hoekstra
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthijs J Warrens
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Miriam J J Lommen
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
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Wesner E, Pavuluri A, Norwood E, Schmidt B, Bernat E. Evaluating competing models of distress tolerance via structural equation modeling. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 162:95-102. [PMID: 37121119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Distress Tolerance (DT) is a transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factor implicated in a wide range of internalizing spectrum (INT) disorders. DT is commonly conceptualized as a higher-order construct, yet its lower-order dimensions are still debated. While the tolerance of negative emotions, frustration, and physical discomfort are widely considered to be central features of DT, the inclusions of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anxiety sensitivity (AS) are disputed. This study is the first to compare the two leading hierarchical models of DT directly. We also propose and test a DT model which includes IU and AS as lower-order dimensions. This "combined" model drew from the prior hierarchical theories and subsequent research demonstrating IU and AS to be highly correlated. To evaluate the competing models of DT, structured equation modeling was used to construct latent models representing each leading model and our novel "combined" model. A clinical sample was analyzed (N = 278), with participants having completed self-report scales measuring DT's theorized lower-order dimensions. Of the proposed models, the "combined" model demonstrated the best fit indices in the context of INT. A regression model with our "combined" model indicated that even after its shared variance with the Distress Intolerance Index (DII) was removed, it still had a moderate association with INT (β = 0.805, p < .01). This suggests that the only extant measure of the higher-order DT construct, the DII, fails to capture considerable variance in its latent structure. Future directions are discussed.
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8
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Broos HC, Stamatis CA, Goodman Z, Llabre MM, Zvolensky M, Timpano KR. Situational uncertainty interacts with anxiety sensitivity and distress intolerance to predict anticipated worry and preparation for a hurricane. ANXIETY, STRESS, AND COPING 2023; 36:241-258. [PMID: 35238689 PMCID: PMC9936893 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2045013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence for the impact of emotional intolerance on reactivity to stressors, but it is unknown whether the level of situational uncertainty may moderate this relationship. We examined whether situational uncertainty moderated the relationship between emotional intolerance and anticipated anxious responding to hurricane forecasts, considering three aspects of emotional tolerance: anxiety sensitivity, distress intolerance, and hurricane-specific distress intolerance. METHODS Participants (N = 358) were Florida residents who experienced Hurricane Irma. Participants were presented with two hypothetical storm forecasts that varied in level of uncertainty: 5-day forecast (high uncertainty) and 3-day forecast (low uncertainty). Participants rated their anticipated worry and preparation for each forecast. RESULTS Significant interactions between forecast uncertainty and both anxiety sensitivity and hurricane-specific distress intolerance emerged on anticipated worry, such that there was a stronger relationship in the high uncertainty condition. Forecast uncertainty also moderated the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and anticipated preparation in the same direction. There were no significant interactions between forecast uncertainty and distress intolerance on either anticipated worry or preparation. CONCLUSIONS Specific aspects of emotional intolerance appear to have a stronger influence on anticipated worry and preparatory behavior in high uncertainty situations. These findings suggest that distinct emotional tolerance factors may influence these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C. Broos
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
| | - Caitlin A. Stamatis
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
- Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N. Lake Shore Dr, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611
| | - Zachary Goodman
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
| | - Maria M. Llabre
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
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9
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Hsu T, Thomas EBK, Welch EK, O'Hara MW, McCabe JE. Examining the Structure of Distress Tolerance: Are Behavioral and Self-Report Indicators Assessing the Same Construct? JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2023; 27:143-151. [PMID: 36911144 PMCID: PMC9997101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Distress tolerance, or the ability to tolerate physically and emotionally aversive experiences, is a target of psychological intervention in contextual behavioral science. It has been conceptualized as a self-reported ability, as well as a behavioral tendency, and operationalized with a wide variability of questionnaires and behavioral tasks. The current study aimed to investigate whether behavioral tasks and self-report assessments of distress tolerance measure the same underlying dimension, two correlated dimensions, or whether method factors accounted for covariation above and beyond a general content dimension. A university student sample (N = 288) completed behavioral tasks associated with distress tolerance and self-report distress tolerance measures. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that behavioral and self-report assessments of distress tolerance do not comprise a single dimension of distress tolerance, or two correlated dimensions of self-report or behavioral distress tolerance. Results also failed to support a bifactor conceptualization with a general distress tolerance dimension and domain-specific method dimensions for behavioral and self-report assessments. Findings suggest that more precision and attention to contextual factors are required in the operationalization and conceptualization of distress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ti Hsu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, U.S.A
| | - Emily B K Thomas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, U.S.A
| | - Emma K Welch
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, U.S.A
| | - Michael W O'Hara
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, U.S.A
| | - Jennifer E McCabe
- Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, U.S.A
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Carleton RN, McCarron M, Krätzig GP, Sauer-Zavala S, Neary JP, Lix LM, Fletcher AJ, Camp RD, Shields RE, Jamshidi L, Nisbet J, Maguire KQ, MacPhee RS, Afifi TO, Jones NA, Martin RR, Sareen J, Brunet A, Beshai S, Anderson GS, Cramm H, MacDermid JC, Ricciardelli R, Rabbani R, Teckchandani TA, Asmundson GJG. Assessing the impact of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) protocol and Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST) among diverse public safety personnel. BMC Psychol 2022; 10:295. [PMID: 36494748 PMCID: PMC9733219 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00989-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public safety personnel (PSP; e.g., border services personnel, correctional workers, firefighters, paramedics, police, public safety communicators) are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events. Such events contribute to substantial and growing challenges from posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs), including but not limited to posttraumatic stress disorder. METHODS The current protocol paper describes the PSP PTSI Study (i.e., design, measures, materials, hypotheses, planned analyses, expected implications, and limitations), which was originally designed to evaluate an evidence-informed, proactive system of mental health assessment and training among Royal Canadian Mounted Police for delivery among diverse PSP (i.e., firefighters, municipal police, paramedics, public safety communicators). Specifically, the PSP PTSI Study will: (1) adapt, implement, and assess the impact of a system for ongoing (i.e., annual, monthly, daily) evidence-based assessments; (2) evaluate associations between demographic variables and PTSI; (3) longitudinally assess individual differences associated with PTSI; and, (4) assess the impact of providing diverse PSP with a tailored version of the Emotional Resilience Skills Training originally developed for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in mitigating PTSIs based on the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. Participants are assessed pre- and post-training, and then at a follow-up 1-year after training. The assessments include clinical interviews, self-report surveys including brief daily and monthly assessments, and daily biometric data. The current protocol paper also describes participant recruitment and developments to date. DISCUSSION The PSP PTSI Study is an opportunity to implement, test, and improve a set of evidence-based tools and training as part of an evidence-informed solution to protect PSP mental health. The current protocol paper provides details to inform and support translation of the PSP PTSI Study results as well as informing and supporting replication efforts by other researchers. TRIAL REGISTRATION Hypotheses Registration: aspredicted.org, #90136. Registered 7 March 2022-Prospectively registered. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05530642. Registered 1 September 2022-Retrospectively registered. The subsequent PSP PTSI Study results are expected to benefit the mental health of all participants and, ultimately, all PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Nicholas Carleton
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Michelle McCarron
- grid.412733.00000 0004 0480 4970Research Department, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Regina, SK S4S 0A5 Canada
| | - Gregory P. Krätzig
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Shannon Sauer-Zavala
- grid.266539.d0000 0004 1936 8438Treatment Innovation for Psychological Services Research Program, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | - J. Patrick Neary
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Lisa M. Lix
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3 Canada
| | - Amber J. Fletcher
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Ronald D. Camp
- grid.266876.b0000 0001 2156 9982Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9 Canada
| | - Robyn E. Shields
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Laleh Jamshidi
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Jolan Nisbet
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Kirby Q. Maguire
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Renée S. MacPhee
- grid.268252.90000 0001 1958 9263Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 Canada
| | - Tracie O. Afifi
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W5 Canada
| | - Nicholas A. Jones
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Department of Justice Studies, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Ronald R. Martin
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Faculty of Education, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Jitender Sareen
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609Department of Psychiatry, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W5 Canada
| | - Alain Brunet
- grid.459278.50000 0004 4910 4652McGill’s Psychiatry Department and Douglas Institute Research Center, 6875 Lasalle Boulevard, Verdun, QC H4H 1R3 Canada
| | - Shadi Beshai
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Gregory S. Anderson
- grid.265014.40000 0000 9945 2031Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8 Canada
| | - Heidi Cramm
- grid.410356.50000 0004 1936 8331School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Joy C. MacDermid
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884School of Physiotherapy, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7 Canada
| | - Rosemary Ricciardelli
- grid.25055.370000 0000 9130 6822School of Maritime Studies, Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5R3 Canada
| | - Rasheda Rabbani
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Taylor A. Teckchandani
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Gordon J. G. Asmundson
- grid.57926.3f0000 0004 1936 9131Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
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Sandel-Fernandez DB, Pearlstein JG, Swerdlow BA, Johnson SL. Who disengages from emotion and when? An EMA study of how urgency and distress intolerance relate to daily emotion regulation. Emotion 2022; 23:1102-1114. [PMID: 36048037 PMCID: PMC9975112 DOI: 10.1037/emo0001152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Overreliance on disengagement emotion regulation strategies (e.g., emotion avoidance, emotion suppression) has been shown to relate to poor clinical outcomes. Two traits characterized by difficulties in goal-directed responses to emotion-urgency and distress intolerance-may help explain who is likely to disengage from emotion and when. These traits are associated with diverse forms of psychopathology and greater reliance on disengagement strategies. Gaps remain about how these traits relate to emotion regulation in daily life. The present study uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to determine the associations of urgency and distress intolerance with momentary high arousal negative affect and momentary attempts to regulate negative emotions. Participants (N = 101) were college students who endorsed at least weekly behaviors often characterized by emotion dysregulation (e.g., self-harm, binging/purging, alcohol/drug use). Participants completed trait measures at baseline and EMA surveys of momentary affect and emotion regulation, six times daily for 4 days. Results indicated that at certain levels, urgency and distress intolerance moderated the relationship between high arousal negative affect and disengagement from emotion: low urgency scores related to relatively greater disengagement from emotion following reported high arousal negative affect, whereas high distress intolerance scores related to relatively greater disengagement following high arousal negative affect. Findings support the role of both urgency and distress intolerance in the relationship between high arousal negative affect and disengagement, which implicates the utility of clinical interventions that focus on emotion regulation, especially during high arousal states. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Carleton RN, Krätzig GP, Sauer-Zavala S, Neary JP, Lix LM, Fletcher AJ, Afifi TO, Brunet A, Martin R, Hamelin KS, Teckchandani TA, Jamshidi L, Maguire KQ, Gerhard D, McCarron M, Hoeber O, Jones NA, Stewart SH, Keane TM, Sareen J, Dobson K, Asmundson GJG. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Study: protocol for a prospective investigation of mental health risk and resilience factors. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can 2022; 42:319-333. [PMID: 35993603 PMCID: PMC9514212 DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.42.8.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), like all public safety personnel (PSP), are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events that contribute to posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI). Addressing PTSI is impeded by the limited available research. In this protocol paper, we describe the RCMP Study, part of the concerted efforts by the RCMP to reduce PTSI by improving access to evidence-based assessments, treatments and training as well as participant recruitment and RCMP Study developments to date. The RCMP Study has been designed to (1) develop, deploy and assess the impact of a system for ongoing annual, monthly and daily evidence-based assessments; (2) evaluate associations between demographic variables and PTSI; (3) longitudinally assess individual differences associated with PTSI; (4) augment the RCMP Cadet Training Program with skills to proactively mitigate PTSI; and (5) assess the impact of the augmented training condition (ATC) versus the standard training condition (STC). Participants in the STC (n = 480) and ATC (n = 480) are assessed before and after training and annually for 5 years on their deployment date; they also complete brief monthly and daily surveys. The RCMP Study results are expected to benefit the mental health of all participants, RCMP and PSP by reducing PTSI among all who serve.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Nicholas Carleton
- Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Gregory P Krätzig
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Shannon Sauer-Zavala
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - J Patrick Neary
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Lisa M Lix
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Amber J Fletcher
- Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Tracie O Afifi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Alain Brunet
- Department of Psychiatry and Douglas Institute Research Centre, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ron Martin
- Faculty of Education, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Taylor A Teckchandani
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Laleh Jamshidi
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Kirby Q Maguire
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - David Gerhard
- Department of Computer Science, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Orland Hoeber
- Department of Computer Science, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nicholas A Jones
- Department of Justice Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Sherry H Stewart
- Mood, Anxiety, and Addiction Comorbidity (MAAC) Lab, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Terence M Keane
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System & Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jitender Sareen
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Keith Dobson
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gordon J G Asmundson
- Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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13
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Putica A, Felmingham KL, Garrido MI, O'Donnell ML, Van Dam NT. A predictive coding account of value-based learning in PTSD: Implications for precision treatments. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104704. [PMID: 35609683 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
While there are a number of recommended first-line interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment efficacy has been less than ideal. Generally, PTSD treatment models explain symptom manifestation via associative learning, treating the individual as a passive organism - acted upon - rather than self as agent. At their core, predictive coding (PC) models introduce the fundamental role of self-conceptualisation and hierarchical processing of one's sensory context in safety learning. This theoretical article outlines how predictive coding models of emotion offer a parsimonious framework to explain PTSD treatment response within a value-based decision-making framework. Our model integrates the predictive coding elements of the perceived: self, world and self-in the world and how they impact upon one or more discrete stages of value-based decision-making: (1) mental representation; (2) emotional valuation; (3) action selection and (4) outcome valuation. We discuss treatment and research implications stemming from our hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Putica
- Phoenix Australia Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Marta I Garrido
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Meaghan L O'Donnell
- Phoenix Australia Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas T Van Dam
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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14
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Benuto LT, Yang Y, Bennett N, Lancaster C. Distress Tolerance and Emotion Regulation as Potential Mediators Between Secondary Traumatic Stress and Maladaptive Coping. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP11557-NP11581. [PMID: 33076751 DOI: 10.1177/0886260520967136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The extant literature has illustrated that protective service workers experience negative repercussions associated with their job (including the development of secondary traumatic stress; STS) and may utilize maladaptive coping mechanisms. Developing an improved understanding of factors that might explain the relationship between STS and the utilization of maladaptive coping mechanisms is warranted. This study sought to examine emotion regulation and distress tolerance as potential mediators between STS and the utilization of maladaptive coping mechanisms. Participants were 152 elder protective service workers and 105 child protective service workers who completed an online survey of self-report measures of emotion regulation, distress tolerance, STS, and coping behaviors. A parallel multiple mediator model was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the hypothesis that distress tolerance and emotion regulation would mediate the relationship between STS and the utilization of maladaptive coping. Our hypothesis was partially supported as the effect of STS on maladaptive coping was mediated by emotion regulation but not by distress tolerance. The results from this study have both prevention and intervention implications. From a prevention perspective, efforts could be directed at teaching emotion regulation skills to those at risk for developing STS as a mechanism for decreasing the probability of denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, and self-blame that may occur as a consequence of STS. From an intervention perspective, some of the negative sequelae of exposure to STS may be averted by teaching EPS and CPS workers who present with STS symptoms, emotion regulation skills.
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15
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Vujanovic AA, Webber HE, McGrew SJ, Green CE, Lane SD, Schmitz JM. Distress tolerance: prospective associations with cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes in adults with posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders. Cogn Behav Ther 2022; 51:326-342. [PMID: 34994673 PMCID: PMC8986561 DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2021.2007995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
74Distress tolerance (DT; perceived or actual ability to tolerate aversive physical or emotional states) is related to both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and substance use disorders (SUD). This investigation evaluates self-report and behavioral measures of DT as potential predictors of PTSD and SUD cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes. Participants included 41 treatment-seeking adults (53.7% women; 73.2% African American; Mage = 44.90, SD = 9.68) who met at least four symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and DSM-IV substance dependence, assessed via structured interviews. At baseline (pre-treatment), participants completed the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Mirror-Tracing Persistence Task (MTPT), Breath Holding task, and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 severity scores and percent days of primary substance use, measured via Timeline Follow-back, were used as indicators of PTSD symptoms and substance use, respectively. Covariates included treatment condition, baseline PTSD symptom severity, and baseline substance use. Lower perceived DT at baseline (DTS total score) was associated with higher PTSD symptom severity at end-of-treatment. Lower behavioral DT at baseline (MTPT duration) was associated with higher substance use at the conclusion of treatment (i.e. proportion of number of use days to total number of days between two final treatment sessions).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Scott D. Lane
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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16
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Leonard SJ, Zegel M, Venta A, Vujanovic AA. Insecure Adult Attachment Style and PTSD Symptom Severity among Firefighters: The Role of Distress Tolerance. JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, MALTREATMENT & TRAUMA 2022; 32:592-610. [PMID: 37377579 PMCID: PMC10292721 DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2022.2078681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among firefighters are prevalent and well-documented. Insecure adult attachment style (AAS) and distress tolerance (DT) present two factors with demonstrated relevance to the etiology and maintenance of PTSD. Few studies have examined these constructs in relation to PTSD symptomatology among firefighter populations. The present investigation examined the indirect effect of insecure romantic AAS (i.e., anxious AAS, avoidant AAS) on PTSD symptom severity through DT among firefighters. Exploratory analyses examined this model with each of the PTSD symptom clusters as outcomes. The sample was comprised of 105 firefighters (Mage=40.43, SD=9.15, 95.2% male) recruited from various departments in the southern U.S. An indirect effect was calculated using 10,000 bootstrapped samples. Indirect effects models in the primary analyses were significant when both anxious AAS (β=.20, SE=.10, CI=.06-.43) and avoidant AAS (β=.28, SE=.12, CI=.08-.54) were evaluated as predictors. Effects were evident after accounting for gender, relationship status, years of fire service, and trauma load (i.e., number of potentially traumatic event types experienced). Exploratory analyses revealed that anxious and avoidant AAS are both indirectly related to the PTSD intrusion, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity symptom clusters through DT. Anxious AAS also demonstrated an indirect association with PTSD avoidance symptoms through DT. Attachment styles may influence PTSD symptoms among firefighters through a firefighter's perceived ability to withstand emotional distress. This line of inquiry has potential to inform specialized intervention programs for firefighters. Clinical and empirical implications are discussed.
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17
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Naifeh JA, Nock MK, Dempsey CL, Georg MW, Aliaga PA, Dinh HM, Fullerton CS, Mash HBH, Kao TC, Sampson NA, Wynn GH, Zaslavsky AM, Stein MB, Kessler RC, Ursano RJ. Association of emotion reactivity and distress intolerance with suicide attempts in U.S. Army soldiers. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2022; 52:289-302. [PMID: 34866228 PMCID: PMC10370465 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emotion reactivity (ER) and distress intolerance (DI) may be associated with increased suicide attempt (SA) risk among U.S. Army soldiers. METHOD In this case-control study, 74 soldiers recently hospitalized for SA (cases) were compared with 133 control soldiers from the same Army installations selected based on either propensity score matching (n = 103) or reported 12-month suicide ideation (SI) (n = 30). Controls were weighted to represent the total Army population at the study sites and the subpopulation of 12-month ideators. Participants completed questionnaires assessing ER, DI, and other psychosocial variables. Logistic regression analyses examined whether ER and DI differentiated SA cases from the general population and from 12-month ideators before and after controlling for additional important risk factors (sociodemographic characteristics, stressors, mental disorders). RESULTS In univariate analyses, ER differentiated SA cases from both the general population (OR = 2.5[95%CI = 1.7-3.6]) and soldiers with 12-month SI (OR = 2.5[95%CI = 1.3-4.6]). DI also differentiated cases from the general population (OR = 2.9[95%CI = 2.0-4.1]) and 12-month ideators (OR = 1.9[95%CI = 1.1-3.5]). These associations persisted after controlling for sociodemographic variables, stressors, and mental disorders. CONCLUSION Findings provide evidence that higher ER and DI are associated with increased risk of SA among soldiers, even after adjusting for known risk factors. Prospective research with larger samples is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Naifeh
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew K Nock
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine L Dempsey
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew W Georg
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Pablo A Aliaga
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Hieu M Dinh
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carol S Fullerton
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Holly B Herberman Mash
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tzu-Cheg Kao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nancy A Sampson
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gary H Wynn
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan M Zaslavsky
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert J Ursano
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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18
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Paltell KC, Berenz EC. The Influences of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Distress Tolerance on Trauma and Alcohol Cue Reactivity in a Sample of Trauma-Exposed College Students. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2022; 83:106-114. [PMID: 35040766 PMCID: PMC8819898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Models of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) often emphasize negative reinforcement drinking (i.e., drinking to reduce negative affect) as a key etiological and maintenance factor. However, potential risk factors related to negative reinforcement drinking in PTSD-AUD are less understood. Distress tolerance exhibits theoretical and empirical promise as one possible, malleable, risk factor. The current study used a trauma and alcohol cue reactivity paradigm to elucidate the role of perceived (i.e., self-reported) distress tolerance in trauma-related alcohol risk. METHOD Participants were 185 university students (50.3% female) endorsing lifetime interpersonal trauma exposure and current weekly alcohol consumption. Subjective craving for alcohol was assessed in response to four combinations of audio narrative (personalized trauma vs. neutral) and beverage (alcohol vs. water) cues. Forward-fitting linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate study hypotheses. RESULTS Perceived distress tolerance significantly interacted with beverage cue in relation to craving (β = -.293, p = .011), such that individuals low, as compared with high, in perceived distress tolerance reported greater craving for alcohol in response to the alcohol, but not water, beverage cue. Although low perceived distress tolerance was associated with greater alcohol coping motives and alcohol use problems at baseline, there were no main effects of perceived distress tolerance in relation to craving, and perceived distress tolerance did not significantly interact with trauma cues to predict craving (ps > .05). CONCLUSIONS Among trauma-exposed young adult drinkers, low perceived distress tolerance may influence alternative processes of AUD risk, such as susceptibility to conditioned craving responses to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin C. Berenz
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois,Correspondence may be sent to Erin C. Berenz at the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison Street (M/C 285), Chicago, IL 60607-7137, or via email at:
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19
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Pilatti A, Michelini Y, Bravo AJ, Pautassi RM. The Association between Distress Tolerance and Alcohol Outcomes via Internal Drinking Motives. Subst Use Misuse 2022; 57:230-238. [PMID: 34789052 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.2002900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Previous work suggests that college students who perceive themselves as less able to tolerate negative affect are more motivated to use alcohol to alleviate psychological distress. Recent findings also indicate that distress tolerance influences alcohol outcomes via a positive reinforcement pathway. However, results concerning the association between distress tolerance and alcohol outcomes remain inconsistent. Aim: The present study examined the association between distinctive features of distress tolerance and alcohol outcomes via internal drinking motives (i.e., coping and enhancement) in Argentinean college students. Method: From April to November 2019, a sample of 387 college students with last-month alcohol use (Mean age = 21.09 ± 4.98) completed an online survey assessing alcohol outcomes (past-month frequency of binge drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences), internal drinking motives, and four components of distress tolerance (i.e., tolerance, appraisal, absorption, and regulation). Results: The associations between specific facets of distress tolerance and drinking outcomes were atemporally mediated by coping and enhancement motives. Coping motives significantly mediated the effect of absorption and appraisal on alcohol-related problems (i.e., lower absorption and lower appraisal were associated with more problems via higher coping motives). Enhancement motives significantly mediated the effect of absorption (lower absorption was associated with greater enhancement motives) on binge drinking frequency and alcohol-related problems. Conclusions: Distress tolerance was associated with alcohol outcomes via coping and enhancement motives in this sample of Argentinean undergraduates. The ability to withstand negative affect could be a focal point of interventions to prevent the development of maladaptive patterns of drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Pilatti
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,IIPsi-CONICET-UNC, Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Yanina Michelini
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,IIPsi-CONICET-UNC, Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adrian J Bravo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William & Mary, USA
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra, Córdoba, Argentina
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20
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Broos HC, Llabre MM, Timpano KR. Belonging Buffers the Impact of Cognitive Vulnerabilities on Affective Symptoms. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10267-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09876-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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22
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Robinson M, Ross J, Fletcher S, Burns CR, Lagdon S, Armour C. The Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Mental Health Outcomes Among University Students. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:7249-7273. [PMID: 30852926 DOI: 10.1177/0886260519835002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A wealth of empirical literature has documented that the experience of childhood maltreatment is related to an increased risk for the development of psychopathologies in adulthood. Empirical studies examining the factors that could possibly explain this relationship, however, remain sparse. The emerging literature on distress tolerance (DT) suggests that it could possibly act as an explanatory or mediating factor within this relationship. The current study, therefore, examined the mediating role of DT in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use) in adulthood in a university student population sample (N = 642). Results showed that childhood maltreatment was positively associated with caseness for all mental health outcomes under investigation. It was also found that individuals with higher levels of DT were less likely to experience adverse mental health outcomes. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that the exposure to childhood maltreatment remained associated with elevated risk for being in the symptomatic group across mental health outcomes, and that DT significantly mediated this relationship. These results provide insight into the relationship between childhood maltreatment and mental ill-health later in life, highlighting the importance of considering DT as a potential risk and resilience factor in this relationship.
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23
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Akbari M, Hosseini ZS, Seydavi M, Zegel M, Zvolensky MJ, Vujanovic AA. Distress tolerance and posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cogn Behav Ther 2021; 51:42-71. [PMID: 34279189 DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2021.1942541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The association between distress tolerance (DT) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is well established. This study aimed to provide an account of the magnitude of this effect across available studies. From the 2,212 records yielded by the initial search, 56 studies comprised 12,672 participants (Mage = 29.96, SD = 12.05; 44.94% women) were included in the investigation upon a priori criteria. Results demonstrated consistent negative associations between DT and PTSD symptoms, such that lower DT was associated with higher PTSD symptom severity and vice versa; the effect size (ES) was relatively small in magnitude (r = -0.335, 95% CI [-0.379, -0.289]). Moreover, ESs for the DT-PTSD association were significantly greater for studies which examined self-reported DT compared to those that examined behavioral DT. The number of traumatic event types experienced (trauma load) was the most consistent moderator of the DT and PTSD association. The clinical implications of the role of DT in PTSD are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Akbari
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Seydavi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maya Zegel
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael J Zvolensky
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, USA
| | - Anka A Vujanovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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24
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Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Tolerance Predict Changes in Internalizing Symptoms in Individuals Exposed to Interpersonal Trauma. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10234-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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25
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Albanese BJ, Preston TJ, Bedford C, Macatee RJ, Schmidt NB. Distress Intolerance Prospectively Predicts Traumatic Intrusions Following an Experimental Trauma in a Non-clinical Sample. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10228-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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26
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Ranney R, Zakeri SE, Kevorkian S, Rappaport L, Chowdhury N, Amstadter A, Dick D, Berenz EC. Investigating Relationships Among Distress Tolerance, PTSD Symptom Severity, and Alcohol Use. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-020-09842-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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27
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Hartmann SA, McLeish AC. Associations Between Transdiagnostic Cognitive-Affective Vulnerability Factors, Negative Reinforcement Drinking Motives, and Problematic Alcohol Use among Undergraduates. J Dual Diagn 2021; 17:13-22. [PMID: 33170111 DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2020.1828671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation difficulties have each demonstrated significant individual associations with problematic alcohol use and negative reinforcement motives for alcohol use among college students. However, extant research has yet to examine these three factors simultaneously with regard to the possibility of differential associations with alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems and coping and conformity motives for alcohol use. As such, the present study sought to examine whether such differential associations exist within a sample of undergraduates reporting past year alcohol use. Methods: Participants were 379 undergraduate students reporting alcohol use in the past year who completed self-report measures for course credit. Results: After controlling for the effects of sex, lifetime marijuana use status, and negative affectivity, greater anxiety sensitivity social concerns and difficulties with emotional awareness were associated with more alcohol-related problems. Greater anxiety sensitivity social concerns and impulse control difficulties were associated with greater conformity alcohol use motives, and greater impulse control and emotional clarity difficulties were associated with greater coping motives. Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater fears of anxiety symptoms because of their potential negative social consequences and certain emotion regulation difficulties (i.e., impulse control, emotional clarity, emotional awareness) may be particularly problematic because they are associated with alcohol-related problems and negative reinforcement motives for use among undergraduates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Hartmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Alison C McLeish
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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Mathes BM, Kennedy GA, Morabito DM, Martin A, Bedford CE, Schmidt NB. A longitudinal investigation of the association between rumination, hostility, and PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed individuals. J Affect Disord 2020; 277:322-328. [PMID: 32858313 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rumination, defined as perseverative thinking regarding the causes and consequences of psychological symptoms, is a risk and maintaining factor for PTSD. Existing work has largely focused on the extent to which rumination functions as a coping strategy used to avoid traumatic memories and associated emotions. However, rumination may also maintain negative thinking patterns, such as hostility, which has been positively associated with both rumination and PTSD symptoms. The current study therefore investigated the extent to which hostility was a significant mediator of the prospective association between rumination and PTSD symptoms. METHODS The sample consisted of 119 trauma-exposed individuals (48.7% female), who completed self-report questionnaires at three time points during a clinical trial. RESULTS When controlling for treatment condition and baseline depressive disorder diagnosis, hostility temporally mediated the effects of rumination on PTSD symptoms. Specificity analyses provided further support for the direction and specific variables examined in this model, such that rumination was positively and uniquely associated with later hostility. LIMITATIONS Our findings are limited by the use of a sample in which only 30% of participants met diagnostic criteria for a trauma-related disorder, as well as the administration of the rumination measure at only one time point. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that rumination and hostility may be promising treatment and prevention targets for PTSD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany M Mathes
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301 USA
| | - Grace A Kennedy
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301 USA
| | - Danielle M Morabito
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301 USA
| | - Alex Martin
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301 USA
| | - Carter E Bedford
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301 USA
| | - Norman B Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301 USA.
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Therapeutic songwriting to address distress tolerance for adults on an acute care mental health unit: A pilot study. ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2020.101716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Preston TJ, Morabito DM, Albanese BJ, Schmidt NB. Distress intolerance mediates attentional control on posttraumatic stress symptoms: Evidence from two clinical samples. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 130:447-454. [PMID: 32911357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Theoretical models emphasize the importance of both affective and cognitive risk factors in the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Two such factors predicting PTSS have been studied extensively: distress intolerance (DI) - an affective factor indicative of the ability to tolerate negative affective states - and attentional control (AC), a cognitive factor reflecting the ability to flexibly shift and maintain attention to goal-relevant tasks. Previous work primarily highlights the independent contributions of DI and AC and their interaction to predict PTSS. Some models, however, suggest a mediational pathway such that AC indirectly affects PTSS via diminished DI. The current paper addressed this gap by first attempting to replicate prior findings, while also exploring this mediation model. Results were examined in two clinical samples - a trauma-exposed sample of adults (study 1; N = 73) and trauma-exposed treatment-seeking adults (study 2; N = 204). Results partially supported our hypotheses; both studies failed to replicate prior moderation findings, but our mediational hypothesis was supported in both samples. Low AC appears to decrease an individual's tolerance for distressing situations, which in turn increases the severity of PTSS. Results suggest that PTSD treatments may benefit by incorporating components of AC, DI, or a combination of the two to mitigate PTSS. Taken together, this study provides a novel examination of how cognitive and affective risk factors, namely AC and DI, work in tandem to increase PTSS.
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Macatee RJ, Correa KA, Carrillo VL, Berenz E, Shankman SA. Distress Tolerance as a Familial Vulnerability for Distress-Misery Disorders. Behav Ther 2020; 51:905-916. [PMID: 33051033 PMCID: PMC7573202 DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2019.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Low perceived distress tolerance (DT), a trait-like individual difference factor reflecting one's perceived ability to withstand aversive affective states, has been linked with current internalizing and substance use disorders (SUDs). However, perceived DT has not been systematically evaluated as a familial, transdiagnostic vulnerability factor for internalizing and SUDs. The current study tested whether perceived DT runs in families and whether it is reduced among individuals with versus without remitted internalizing/SUD psychopathology. Perceived DT and internalizing/SUDs were measured in 638 individuals (nested within 256 families). Analyses also adjusted for the effects of neuroticism to test whether DT was a specific vulnerability factor independent of temperamental negative affect. Analyses revealed that perceived DT was lower in individuals with remitted distress (i.e., major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder) but not fear disorders (i.e., panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders) relative to healthy controls, and the effect of distress-misery disorder history remained significant when adjusting for neuroticism. Perceived DT was not significantly different among individuals with versus without a remitted SUD. There were no effects for comorbid SUD and distress-misery disorders. Finally, perceived DT was also significantly correlated within families, suggesting that it runs in families. Overall, results suggest that independent of neuroticism, low perceived DT is a familial vulnerability for distress (but not fear or substance use) disorders.
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Hood CO, Jones AC, Flores J, Badour CL, Feldner MT. Distress Tolerance Interacts with Peritraumatic Emotions to Predict Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Following Sexual Victimization. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 26:396-404. [PMID: 33776596 DOI: 10.1037/trm0000279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The intensity of peritraumatic emotions occurring at the time of, and in the hours or days immediately following, a traumatic event prospectively predicts posttraumatic stress symptom severity. However, less is known about how the perception of one's ability to tolerate distressing emotions affects the relation between peritraumatic emotions and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Therefore, the current study investigated how perceived distress tolerance affects the association between peritraumatic emotional intensity and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Participants included 72 adult women with a history of sexual victimization. Ratings of peritraumatic emotions (e.g., fear, anger, sadness, guilt, and shame), perceived distress tolerance, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were examined. All analyses controlled for general negative affect. Significant interactions emerged for overall peritraumatic emotional intensity, and specifically for peritraumatic anger, sadness, and shame. The associations between these peritraumatic emotions and posttraumatic stress symptoms were stronger for individuals with lower perceived ability to tolerate distress. Our results suggest that peritraumatic emotional experiences may be particularly relevant to understanding the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms among individuals who have difficulty tolerating intense negative emotional states. Future research should examine whether perceived distress tolerance might serve as a potential target for posttraumatic stress prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Matthew T Feldner
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas.,Canopy Growth Corporation, Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada
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Hernandez DC, Daundasekara SS, Zvolensky MJ, Reitzel LR, Maria DS, Alexander AC, Kendzor DE, Businelle MS. Urban Stress Indirectly Influences Psychological Symptoms through Its Association with Distress Tolerance and Perceived Social Support among Adults Experiencing Homelessness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E5301. [PMID: 32717884 PMCID: PMC7432521 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17155301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, intrapersonal characteristics (distress tolerance) and interpersonal characteristics (social support) have been studied separately rather than simultaneously. In the current study, we address this gap by simultaneously examining these characteristics as potential indirect associations linking established urban stress-depression and urban stress-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) relationships. Adults experiencing homelessness were recruited from six homeless shelters in Oklahoma City (n = 567). Participants self-reported urban life stress (Urban Life Stress Scale), distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale), social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List 12), major depressive disorder (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and PTSD symptoms (Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screener). Covariate-adjusted structural equation models indicated a significant indirect effect of distress tolerance on the urban stress-depression (b = 0.101, 95% CI = 0.061, 0.147) and urban stress-PTSD (b = 0.065, 95% CI = 0.023, 0.112) relationships. Additionally, a significant indirect effect of social support on the urban stress-depression (b = 0.091, 95% CI = 0.053, 0.133) and urban stress-PTSD relationships (b = 0.043, 95% CI = 0.006, 0.082) was evident. Further, both the urban stress-depression (b = 0.022, 95% CI = 0.011, 0.037) and urban stress-PTSD relationships (b = 0.014, 95% CI = 0.005, 0.026) were associated indirectly through social support to distress tolerance. Interventions that aim to increase social support may also increase distress tolerance skills and indirectly reduce depressive and PTSD symptoms in the context of urban stress among adults experiencing homelessness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne C. Hernandez
- Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | | | - Michael J. Zvolensky
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA;
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA;
| | - Lorraine R. Reitzel
- HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA;
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Diane Santa Maria
- Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Adam C. Alexander
- Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73104, USA; (A.C.A.); (D.E.K.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Darla E. Kendzor
- Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73104, USA; (A.C.A.); (D.E.K.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Michael S. Businelle
- Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73104, USA; (A.C.A.); (D.E.K.); (M.S.B.)
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Simons JS, Simons RM, Grimm KJ, Keith JA, Stoltenberg SF. Affective dynamics among veterans: Associations with distress tolerance and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Emotion 2020; 21:757-771. [PMID: 32191092 DOI: 10.1037/emo0000745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We tested a dynamic structural equation model (DSEM; Asparouhov, Hamaker, & Muthén, 2018) of positive and negative affect in 254 veterans with approximately 1.5 years of experience sampling data. The analysis provided estimates of several aspects of veteran's emotional experience including "trait" positive and negative affect (i.e., mean levels), inertia (i.e., tendency for emotions to self-perpetuate), innovation variance (conceptualized as lability, reactivity, or exposure to stressors), and cross-lagged associations between positive and negative affect. Veterans with higher trait negative affect had more negative affect inertia and innovation variance. This suggests a pattern whereby the veteran has more negative reactions, and negative emotions, in turn, tend to maintain themselves, contributing to higher trait negative affect. In contrast, veterans with higher trait positive affect exhibited more positive affect innovation variance (e.g., positive reactivity). Although veterans showed some consistency in dynamics across emotions (e.g., positive and negative reactivity were positively correlated), trait positive and negative affect were not significantly associated. Veterans with higher posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) at baseline exhibited higher reactivity to negative events, less positive affect, and more negative affect during the follow-up. Veterans with higher distress tolerance reported not only lower PTSS but also a more adaptive pattern of affective experience characterized by lower inertia and reactivity in negative affect and more positive lagged associations between negative affect and subsequent positive affect. The results demonstrated that distress tolerance and PTSS in veterans were associated with dynamics of positive and negative emotion over time, suggesting specific differences in affect regulation processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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35
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Simons JS, Simons RM, Walters KJ, Keith JA, O'Brien C, Andal K, Stoltenberg SF. Nexus of despair: A network analysis of suicidal ideation among veterans. Arch Suicide Res 2020; 24:314-336. [PMID: 30734645 PMCID: PMC7206527 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1574689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to estimate a network model of risk and resilience factors of suicidal ideation among veterans. Two network models of suicidal ideation among Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans (N = 276) incorporated key disorders, traumatic stress, and resilience constructs to contextualize suicidal ideation. Childhood trauma was positively connected with suicidal ideation and harassment and inversely connected with social support and distress tolerance. This exemplifies long-lasting associations between childhood trauma and re-victimization, emotion regulation, and ability to form supportive social relationships. A subsequent model including lower-order facets indicated that combat trauma was predominantly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder-intrusion symptoms. This study highlights the importance of addressing both risk and resilience to reduce suicide risk among veterans and increases understanding of factors that contribute to suicidal ideation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Simons
- The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.,Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
| | - Raluca M Simons
- The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.,Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
| | - Kyle J Walters
- The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
| | | | | | - Kate Andal
- Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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36
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The Construct Validity of Distress Intolerance: Is it Distinct from Demoralization and Negative Emotionality? JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-019-09764-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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37
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Martin RL, Bauer BW, Ramsey KL, Green BA, Capron DW, Anestis MD. How Distress Tolerance Mediates the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide Constructs in a U.S. Military Sample. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2019; 49:1318-1331. [PMID: 30368865 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite the general suicide rate within the military being comparable to the general population when comparing peers, there are certain branches of the military that have elevated risk. Specifically, the U.S. National Guard has suicide rates that are constantly higher than other military branches and civilian peers. The National Guard are a unique military population in which they frequently transition between military and civilian life. With these unique experiences and heightened risk, military suicide prevention efforts may benefit from further research within this population. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another concern amongst military personnel and has been linked to suicidal behavior. METHODS The current study examined the indirect effects that distress tolerance, a protective factor against suicide, has on the relationship between PTSD and constructs within a well-validated theory for suicide (the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory for suicidal behaviors) in a sample of U.S. Army National Guard personnel. RESULTS Results indicated that distress tolerance had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between PTSD and thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and capability for suicide. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with previous literature examining the relationship between distress tolerance and our outcome variables. These results could have important clinical implications, mainly that intervention strategies targeting distress tolerance could have significant impacts on suicide-relate thoughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Martin
- Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Brian W Bauer
- Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Kathleen L Ramsey
- Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Bradley A Green
- Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Daniel W Capron
- Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Michael D Anestis
- Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
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38
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Conway CC, Penrod MT, Pugsley GM, Larrazabal MA, Snyder CE. Cross-Domain Assessment of Distress Intolerance: Associations With Borderline Personality Disorder Features. J Pers Disord 2019; 33:560-575. [PMID: 30307823 DOI: 10.1521/pedi_2018_32_359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Distress tolerance (DT) is central to major etiological theories of, and popular treatments for, borderline personality disorder (PD), but empirical evidence for the connection between DT and borderline PD is inconclusive. Such inconsistency is partly due to limited concordance across DT indices from different measurement domains (e.g., behavioral, physiological). In a student sample (N = 267), we assessed subjective perceptions of DT capabilities, task performance on a distressing laboratory challenge, and borderline pathology. Subjective and behavioral indices of DT were largely unrelated. Further, borderline PD features were moderately associated with self-perceived DT (r = -.53); in contrast, they were weakly related to performance on the DT task (r = -.09). We conclude that there is mixed evidence for an association between borderline pathology and DT. Further, we propose a systematic approach to examining the construct validity of DT in multimethod, multimeasure research that might resolve the equivocal results from prior work.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Casey E Snyder
- Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
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39
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Crabtree MA, Meyer EC, Kimbrel NA, DeBeer BB, Kruse MI, Gulliver SB, Telch M, Morissette SB. Factor Structure and Initial Validation of a Brief Measure of Perceived Emotional and Physical Distress Tolerance in Post-9/11 US Veterans. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 31:10.1080/08995605.2019.1637210. [PMID: 31660019 PMCID: PMC6816279 DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2019.1637210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Distress tolerance (i.e., perceived or actual capacity to tolerate aversive internal states) has received considerable research attention as a transdiagnostic risk-factor underlying the development and maintenance of psychopathology. Lower levels of emotional distress tolerance have been linked to psychopathology (e.g. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) within Military populations; however, the association of physical distress tolerance to psychopathology in this population has been under-researched. This research gap may be due in part to a paucity of comprehensive, temporally stable and brief measures of distress tolerance that have been validated within Military populations, which may hinder further examination and refinement of the construct. Addressing this problem, the current study evaluates the psychometric properties of a novel and brief measure of emotional and physical distress tolerance in a sample of United States post-9/11 Veterans. Participants were 307 Veterans (Mage= 38.9, 67.7% male) who completed the 10-item Distress Tolerance Inventory at baseline and annual follow-up. Exploratory structural equation modeling was used to examine the optimal latent factor structure and longitudinal invariance of the DTI measurement model, along with correlational analyses to examine the convergent properties of the DTI subscales. The DTI reflected a longitudinally invariant two-factor structure (emotional and physical distress tolerance), with excellent internal consistency and preliminary evidence of convergent validity. Thus, the DTI represents a brief, reliable and temporally stable measure of physical and emotional distress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric C Meyer
- VA VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
- Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine
- Warriors Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health
| | - Nathan A Kimbrel
- Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System
- VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center
- Duke University School of Medicine
| | - Bryann B DeBeer
- VA VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
- Warriors Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health
| | - Marc I Kruse
- Austin Fire Department & Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services
| | - Suzy B Gulliver
- Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine
- Warriors Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health
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Worden B, Levy HC, Das A, Katz BW, Stevens M, Tolin DF. Perceived emotion regulation and emotional distress tolerance in patients with hoarding disorder. J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord 2019; 22:100441. [PMID: 32818134 PMCID: PMC7430655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2019.100441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Emotional distress tolerance (EDT) and emotion regulation (ER) appear to be highly relevant to hoarding pathology, as excessive saving and/or acquiring may be motivated by emotional avoidance or other attempts to regulate negative affect. While findings with nonclinical samples have suggested and EDT/ER predicts hoarding symptoms, there is little data on clinical samples. The aim of the current study was to examine several self-report measures of EDT and ER in individuals with HD (n = 87) and age-matched nonclinical controls (n = 46), and to explore whether this was predictive of treatment compliance and/or outcome in group CBT for HD. Results suggested that, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004) total score, DERS goals and awareness subscales, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS; Buhr & Dugas, 2002) were predictive of hoarding severity. However, EDT/ER did not change with treatment, did not mediate treatment outcome, and did not predicted treatment retention, compliance, or outcome. Results suggest that some EDT/ER constructs, such as uncertainty intolerance, difficulty persisting in goal behaviors when upset, and low emotional awareness, may explain significant variance in HD symptoms, although they did not appear to be mechanisms of change in CBT for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michael Stevens
- Institute of Living, Hartford, CT
- Yale University School of Medicine
| | - David F. Tolin
- Institute of Living, Hartford, CT
- Yale University School of Medicine
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41
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Berenz EC, York TP, Bing-Canar H, Amstadter AB, Mezuk B, Gardner CO, Roberson-Nay R. Time course of panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder onsets. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2019; 54:639-647. [PMID: 30003310 PMCID: PMC6509003 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-018-1559-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occurs with panic disorder (PD), with some etiological models positing a causal role of panic reactivity in PTSD onset; however, data addressing the temporal ordering of these conditions are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the bi-directional associations between PD and PTSD in a nationally representative, epidemiologic sample of trauma-exposed adults. METHODS Participants were community-dwelling adults (62.6% women; Mage = 48.9, SD 16.3) with lifetime DSM-IV PTSD criterion A trauma exposure drawn from the 2001/2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) and re-interviewed in 2004/5 (N = 12,467). Cox discrete-time proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates were used to investigate the bi-directional associations between lifetime PD and PTSD, accounting for demographic characteristics, trauma load, and lifetime history of major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. RESULTS PD was significantly associated with subsequent onset of PTSD (HR 1.210, 95%CI = 1.207-1.214, p < .001), and PTSD was significantly associated with onset of PD (HR 1.601, 95% CI 1.597-1.604, p < .001). The association between PTSD and subsequent PD was stronger in magnitude than that between PD and subsequent PTSD (Z = - 275.21, p < .01). Men evidenced stronger associations between PD and PTSD compared to women. CONCLUSIONS Results were consistent with a bidirectional pathway of risk, whereby PD significantly increased risk for the development of PTSD, and PTSD significantly increased risk for PD. Given the association between PTSD and subsequent PD, particularly among men, clinicians may consider supplementing PTSD treatment with panic-specific interventions, such as interoceptive exposure, to prevent or treat this disabling comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Berenz
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison Street (M/C 285), Chicago, IL, 60607-7137, USA.
| | - Timothy P York
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Hanaan Bing-Canar
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison Street (M/C 285), Chicago, IL, 60607-7137, USA
| | - Ananda B Amstadter
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Briana Mezuk
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Charles O Gardner
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Roxann Roberson-Nay
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Alcohol expectancies and distress tolerance: Potential mechanisms in the relationship between posttraumatic stress and alcohol use. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Chen M. The research of human individual’s conformity behavior in emergency situations. LIBRARY HI TECH 2018. [DOI: 10.1108/lht-08-2018-0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper (including three studies) is to investigate the idea that individuals in an emergency situation experience significantly a higher level of emotional activation, lower performance of task, and change in decision making, escaping behavior and conformity as compared to being in a non-emergency situation. It is also suggested that the level of emotional activation mediates the association between situation and the performance of task.Design/methodology/approachStudy 1 was an experimental study with 43 university students and revealed that different situations induced different levels of emotional activation and they are positively and significantly related. Study 2 was a further exploration of study 1, in which 49 participants were asked to watch a recomposed video telling a reasonable story about escaping from the emergency and complete several tasks associated with two kinds of situations (non-emergency vs emergency). In study 3, 168 participants, randomly assigned to three groups, were asked to work on judgment tasks with different numbers of options.FindingsResults revealed that individuals in an emergency situation experience significantly lower performance of task and higher conformity tendency than in a non-emergency situation. Also, the causal effect of the situation on the performance of task is mediated by the level of emotional activation. Moreover, results found that the performance of task is also a mediator between the level of emotional activation and conformity. Result showed that the number of choices is negatively related to conformity, and performance is a mediator between the number of choices and conformity.Originality/valueThis paper suggested that the level of emotional activation mediates the association between situation and the performance of task.
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Vujanovic AA, Wardle MC, Bakhshaie J, Smith LJ, Green CE, Lane SD, Schmitz JM. Distress tolerance: Associations with trauma and substance cue reactivity in low-income, inner-city adults with substance use disorders and posttraumatic stress. PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS 2018; 32:264-276. [PMID: 29771557 DOI: 10.1037/adb0000362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cue reactivity has great potential to advance our understanding of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), and PTSD/SUD comorbidity. The present investigation examined distress tolerance (DT) with regard to trauma and substance cue reactivity. Participants included 58 low-income, inner-city adults (49.1% women; Mage = 45.73, SD = 10.00) with substance dependence and at least 4 symptoms of PTSD. A script-driven cue reactivity paradigm was utilized. Four DT measures were administered, including the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Mirror-Tracing Persistence Task (MTPT), Breath-Holding Task (BH), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT). Lower DT, as indexed by MTPT duration, was significantly predictive of greater levels of self-reported substance cravings/urges in response to trauma cues, above and beyond covariates. Lower DTS scores predicted lower levels of self-reported control/safety ratings in response to substance cues. None of the DT indices was significantly predictive of heart rate variability. Clinical and research implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Margaret C Wardle
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | | | - Lia J Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston
| | - Charles E Green
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Scott D Lane
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Joy M Schmitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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Oglesby ME, Short NA, Albanese BJ, Portero AK, Schmidt NB. Negative interpretations of distress-related information: A novel assessment tool for distress tolerance. J Anxiety Disord 2018; 60:20-25. [PMID: 30336368 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Distress tolerance (DT), defined as the perceived and/or actual behavioral capacity to tolerate negative emotional states, is considered an important risk factor for various externalizing and internalizing disorders. Despite the importance of DT in the development and maintenance of psychopathology, few reliable and valid indicators of DT have been developed. One potentially useful way to assess DT is through interpretation bias (IB) paradigms. The current study sought to examine the convergent validity, reliability, and clinical utility of a DT-focused IB paradigm by directly measuring an individual's interpretations of distressing information. Participants completed a DT-IB task and self-report questionnaires. Results found an association between DTS self-report and an exaggerated DT-IB. Reliability analyses found the word pairings in our DT-IB task to display good internal consistency. In addition, an exaggerated DT-IB was associated with diagnostic status after covarying for negative affect and self-report DTS and DT-IB was associated with increased levels of negative affect above and beyond self-report DTS. This study is the first to identify specific interpretation biases for distress-related information. Given the transdiagnostic nature of DT and the efficacy and accessibility associated with CBM-I protocols for related constructs, the present findings add considerably to a growing body of literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - N A Short
- Florida State University, United States
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46
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Brown RC, Overstreet C, Sheerin C, Berenz E, Hawn S, Pickett T, McDonald S, Danielson CK, Amstadter AB. The Nomological Network of a Behavioral Distress Tolerance Task in Veterans. J Trauma Stress 2018; 31:876-885. [PMID: 30537021 PMCID: PMC6352717 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is a relative lack of research on distress tolerance (DT) in veteran samples. The aims of the study were to (a) evaluate convergent and discriminant validity of a behavioral measure of DT compared to theoretically similar (i.e., self-report DT, negative urgency) and dissimilar (i.e., risk-taking) constructs and (b) evaluate the concurrent validity of DT in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms in a veteran sample. A sample of U.S. veterans who served after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks (N = 306, 89.9% male; M age 30.2 years, SD = 4.5, range: 21-40 years) completed self-report and behavioral measures of DT, risk-taking, impulsivity, and depressive symptoms, and completed a clinical interview for PTSD. Results of a multitrait-multimethod matrix found significant yet minimal shared variance, r2 = .01-.03, ps = .002-.055, between the self-report and behavioral measures of DT. We used a series of multiple regressions to examine the relative contribution of the behavioral and self-report DT measures in the prediction of PTSD and depressive symptoms. Self-reported, but not behavioral, DT accounted for unique variance in PTSD, r2 = .12, p < .001, and depressive symptoms, r2 = .23, p < .001. Participants with PTSD or higher scores on measures of depression were more likely to report greater increases in frustration and irritability after completing the behavioral task. Results indicate that DT is not a unidimensional construct and must be considered in the context of specific emotions (e.g., tolerance of irritability vs. fear) and contexts (e.g., behavioral, affective).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth C Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Cassie Overstreet
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Christina Sheerin
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Erin Berenz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Sage Hawn
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Treven Pickett
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Scott McDonald
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Carla Kmett Danielson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ananda B Amstadter
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Jacquart J, Dutcher CD, Freeman SZ, Stein AT, Dinh M, Carl E, Smits JAJ. The effects of exercise on transdiagnostic treatment targets: A meta-analytic review. Behav Res Ther 2018; 115:19-37. [PMID: 30473437 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study meta-analytically reviewed the effects of exercise on four transdiagnostic treatment targets: anxiety sensitivity (AS), distress tolerance (DT), stress reactivity (SR), and general self-efficacy (GSE). METHODS We conducted systematic searches of peer-reviewed studies in bibliographical databases (Cochrane Library, psychINFO, PubMed) before April 1, 2018. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the effect of exercise on AS, DT, SR, or GSE using at least one validated outcome instrument in a sample of adolescents (≥13 years old) or adults were selected. We employed a meta-analysis of effects using random-effects pooling modeling for each treatment target. RESULTS The systematic search yielded 28 RCTs meeting eligibility criteria. Exercise interventions had a large effect on reducing AS (six studies, Hedges's g = 0.72, p = .001), a medium effect on increasing GSE (eight studies, Hedges's g = 0.59, p < .001), and a small effect on reducing SR (ten studies, Hedges's g = 0.32, p < .001). Evidence from four studies suggested that exercise interventions had a small but non-significant effect on increasing DT (Hedges's g = 0.21, p = .26). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis provides preliminary evidence exercise can engage certain transdiagnostic targets. Further research is required to optimize exercise intervention parameters to achieve the strongest effects on these important mechanistic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolene Jacquart
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA.
| | - Christina D Dutcher
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA
| | - Slaton Z Freeman
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA
| | - Aliza T Stein
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA
| | - Mike Dinh
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA
| | - Emily Carl
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA
| | - Jasper A J Smits
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 305 E 23rd Street Stop E9000, Austin, TX, 78712-1043, USA
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48
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Nomamiukor FO, Smith LJ, Vujanovic AA. Examining associations between sleep disturbance and distress tolerance in trauma-exposed psychiatric inpatients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2018; 55:84-89. [PMID: 30448742 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lia J Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anka A Vujanovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
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Overstreet C, Brown E, Berenz EC, Brown RC, Hawn S, McDonald S, Pickett T, Danielson CK, Thomas S, Amstadter A. Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Tolerance Typologies and Relations to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Cluster Analytic Approach. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 30:547-556. [PMID: 30886457 DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2018.1521682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
A growing literature suggests a relationship between a high anxiety sensitivity (AS; the fear of anxiety and its related consequences)/low distress tolerance (DT; the capacity tolerate internal negative states) profile and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, specific profiles have not been identified or examined specifically in veteran samples. Thus, the aims of the present study were to establish empirically derived profiles created from response patterns on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and Distress Tolerance Scale and to examine associations with PTSD symptom clusters among a sample of combat-exposed veterans (N = 250). A cluster analytic approach was utilized to identify AS/DT profiles, and a series of MANOVAs with post hoc analyses was conducted to examine the relationship between each AS/DT profile and each PTSD symptom cluster. Results indicated a three-cluster solution including a high AS/low DT "at risk" profile, a low AS/high DT "resilient" profile, and an average AS/DT "intermediate" profile. The at-risk profile was associated with significantly greater symptoms in each PTSD cluster (i.e., hyperarousal, avoidance, re-experiencing) when compared to the other two profiles. The at-risk profile was also associated with greater depressive symptoms and lower self-reported resilience. These findings extend the previous literature by identifying a high AS/low DT "at risk" profile and its associations with PTSD symptoms, underscoring the potential utility in targeting these affect-regulation constructs for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie Overstreet
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Emily Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Erin C Berenz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ruth C Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sage Hawn
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Carla Kmett Danielson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Suzanne Thomas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Ananda Amstadter
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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50
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Stanley IH, Boffa JW, Smith LJ, Tran JK, Schmidt NB, Joiner TE, Vujanovic AA. Occupational stress and suicidality among firefighters: Examining the buffering role of distress tolerance. Psychiatry Res 2018; 266:90-96. [PMID: 29857292 PMCID: PMC6397653 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Past research indicates that firefighters are at increased risk for suicide. Firefighter-specific occupational stress may contribute to elevated suicidality. Among a large sample of firefighters, this study examined if occupational stress is associated with multiple indicators of suicide risk, and whether distress tolerance, the perceived and/or actual ability to endure negative emotional or physical states, attenuates these associations. A total of 831 firefighters participated (mean [SD] age = 38.37y[8.53y]; 94.5% male; 75.2% White). The Sources of Occupational Stress-14 (SOOS-14), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) were utilized to examine firefighter-specific occupational stress, distress tolerance, and suicidality, respectively. Consistent with predictions, occupational stress interacted with distress tolerance, such that the effects of occupational stress on suicide risk, broadly, as well as lifetime suicide threats and current suicidal intent, specifically, were attenuated at high levels of distress tolerance. Distress tolerance may buffer the effects of occupational stress on suicidality among firefighters. Pending replication, findings suggest that distress tolerance may be a viable target for suicide prevention initiatives within the fire service.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian H. Stanley
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Joseph W. Boffa
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Lia J. Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Jana K. Tran
- Houston Fire Department, 1801 Smith Street, Suite 626, Houston, TX 77002, USA
| | - N. Brad Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Thomas E. Joiner
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Anka A. Vujanovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX 77204, USA,Corresponding author. (A.A. Vujanovic)
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