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Biscoe N, Baumann J, Murphy D. Network analysis of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol misuse in treatment-seeking UK Armed Forces veterans. BMJ Mil Health 2024; 170:281-282. [PMID: 36702523 DOI: 10.1136/military-2022-002329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - J Baumann
- Research Department, Combat Stress, Leatherhead, UK
| | - D Murphy
- Research Department, Combat Stress, Leatherhead, UK
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2
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Li J, Jin Y, Xu S, Yu Y, Wilson A, Chen C, Wang Y. Hazardous drinking in young adults with co-occurring PTSD and psychosis symptoms: A network analysis. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:588-597. [PMID: 38307134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.261] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing literature suggests the co-occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychosis among young adults is related to hazardous drinking. However, the influencing mechanisms among these co-occurrences are inconclusive. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the symptomatic associations between PTSD, psychosis, and hazardous drinking. METHODS This study included 96,218 young Chinese adults, divided into three groups (PTSD, Psychosis, and co-occurring PTSD-Psychosis). PTSD, psychosis, and hazardous drinking were measured by the ten-item Trauma Screening Questionnaire, the seven-item Psychosis Screener Scale, and the four-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, respectively. Network analysis was utilized to explore and compare the symptomatic correlation between PTSD, psychosis, and hazardous drinking. RESULTS In this study, the most crucial symptom (both central and bridge) was "delusion of control" among the three networks. Hazardous drinking was another main bridge symptom. Compared to the Psychosis group and the co-occurring PTSD-Psychosis group, "Delusion of reference or persecution" to "Grandiose delusion" was the strongest edge in "the network structure of the PTSD group". LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional study cannot determine the causal relationship. Applying self-reporting questionnaires may cause inherent bias. Young adult participants limited the generalization of the results to other groups. CONCLUSIONS Among the three network structures, delusion of control was the most crucial symptom, and hazardous drinking was another bridge symptom; the edge of delusion of reference or persecution and grandiose delusion was strongest in the PTSD group's network. Efforts should be taken to develop diverse targeted interventions for these core symptoms to relieve PTSD, psychosis, and hazardous drinking in young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Jin
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shicun Xu
- Northeast Asian Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Amanda Wilson
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Chang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China; School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
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Vázquez AL, Navarro Flores CM, Feinberg DK, Gonzalez JC, Young J, Stewart RW, Orengo-Aguayo RE. A network analysis of Hurricane Maria-related traumatic stress and substance use among Puerto Rican youth. J Trauma Stress 2024; 37:267-279. [PMID: 38196345 PMCID: PMC10984797 DOI: 10.1002/jts.23008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Youth exposed to natural disasters are at risk of developing trauma-related symptoms as well as engaging in substance use. Although previous research has established associations between disaster-related stressors and substance use in youth, less has focused on how symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may underpin this association. The current study used network analysis to identify specific PTSD symptoms associated with substance use following a natural disaster. Participants were 91,732 youths (Grades 3-12) from across Puerto Rico who completed a needs assessment 5-9 months after Hurricane Maria made landfall in September 2017. We examined associations between PTSD symptoms and substance use, identified clusters of symptoms and bridges between them, and explored age- and binary gender-related differences in associations between specific PTSD symptoms and substance use. Analyses identified two symptom communities: (a) arousal and reactivity, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and substance use, and (b) avoidance and intrusion. Broader findings suggested that substance use was most strongly associated with PTSD-related irritability and angry outbursts among youths. Surrounding nodes explained only 4.1% of the variance in substance use, but this was higher among youths who reported not having a supportive adult, R2 = 8.5; friend, R2 = 7.9; or teacher/counselor, R2 = 7.7, in their life. The bridge symptoms of sleep disruption and physiological reactivity were identified as potentially critical intervention targets for disrupting PTSD symptom networks after a natural disaster. Implications for triaged mental health care following natural disasters and directions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro L. Vázquez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Cynthia M. Navarro Flores
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Daniel K. Feinberg
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Gonzalez
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - John Young
- Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, USA
| | - Regan W. Stewart
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Rosaura E. Orengo-Aguayo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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4
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Whiteford S, Quigley M, Dighton G, Wood K, Kitchiner N, Armour C, Dymond S. Anxiety, distress tolerance, and the relationship between complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and alcohol use in veterans. J Clin Psychol 2024; 80:158-169. [PMID: 37860949 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23604] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known about whether distress tolerance and anxiety mediate the relationship between comorbid complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and alcohol use among military veterans. Here, we investigated the contribution of distress tolerance and anxiety on the strength of the CPTSD and alcohol use association. We hypothesized that the impact of a two-factor model of CPTSD derived from subscale scores on the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)-namely ITQ PTSD and ITQ Disturbances in Self Organization (DSO; e.g., issues with affective regulation/self-belief and shame)-on alcohol use severity would be mediated by anxiety but not by distress tolerance. METHODS Participants included 403 community-dwelling United Kingdom (UK) veterans (91.64% male, Mage = 51.15 years, SD = 12.48) recruited as part of a larger, online study. RESULTS Findings indicated that the influence of CPTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity was mediated by anxiety, not by distress tolerance, with greater relative impact due to ITQ DSO status than ITQ PTSD status. CONCLUSIONS We identified the mediational influence of anxiety and distress tolerance on the association between CPTSD subscales and alcohol use in UK veterans. Interventions for anxiety may be adapted for reducing problematic alcohol use and the impact of CPTSD symptoms in veterans with comorbid PTSD and alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seb Whiteford
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - Glen Dighton
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Katie Wood
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Neil Kitchiner
- Veterans NHS Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Cherie Armour
- Research Centre for Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC), School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Simon Dymond
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, Reykjavík, Iceland
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The association between posttraumatic disorder symptoms and addictive behaviours in Macao within a sample of female Filipino migrant workers: a network analysis. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2178764. [PMID: 37052088 PMCID: PMC9987736 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2178764] [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] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Filipino migrant workers in Macao are vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and addictive behaviours due to trauma histories, postmigration stressors, and access to alcohol and gambling venues. While PTSD addiction comorbidity is well-established in the existing literature, such research among migrant workers is lacking.Objective: The current study investigated differential relations between PTSD symptoms and addictive behaviours in a polytrauma exposed sample of Filipino domestic workers in Macao (SAR), China.Methods: Data were collected from 1375 Filipino migrant workers; data from a subsample of 1200 participants who reported an index traumatic event and PTSD symptoms were used in the analyses. Participants responded to the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, gambling disorder symptoms checklist from DSM-5, and The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. We estimated a regularized partial correlation network structure of PTSD symptoms and addictive behaviours employing graphical LASSO and extended Bayesian information criterion.Results: PTSD symptoms of arousal and negative emotions had bridge connections with gambling disorder symptoms; while PTSD symptoms of arousal, restricted affect, negative emotions, and emotional reactivity had bridge connections with alcohol misuse.Conclusions: PTSD's arousal and negative emotion symptoms were common in the networks of PTSD and addictive behaviours, while PTSD's restricted affect and emotional reactivity symptoms were unique to the network of PTSD and alcohol misuse. Treatment of the comorbidity of PTSD and addictive behaviours may yield optimal effects when tailored to these symptoms.
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Knefel M, Karatzias T, Spinazzola J, Shevlin M, Ford JD. The relationship of posttraumatic stress disorder and developmental trauma disorder with childhood psychopathology: A network analysis. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 99:102766. [PMID: 37690357 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102766] [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: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Potentially traumatic experiences are a major risk factor for mental disorders in children and adolescents. Posttraumatic psychopathology includes trauma-specific disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as other psychiatric disorders. Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) has been proposed as a developmentally sensitive diagnosis. We aimed to further illuminate the co-occurrence of psychiatric conditions with DTD and PTSD. METHOD In a convenience sample of families of 507 children and adolescents (mean age = 12.11 years old, SD = 2.92; 48.5% female), we assessed DTD, PTSD, and screened for psychiatric disorders. We estimated network models including DTD, PTSD and ten psychiatric conditions. RESULTS We found that DTD and PTSD share both common and differential comorbidity features on disorder-, domain-, and symptom-level. The differential comorbidity patterns of the DTD and PTSD domains placed DTD close to both externalizing and internalizing psychopathology while PTSD was primarily linked to internalizing conditions. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence for the complex clinical presentation of posttraumatic psychopathology over and above PTSD in children. DTD and PTSD provide useful and distinct diagnostic categories for children who are also experiencing internalizing conditions, and DTD may be especially relevant for children who are experiencing externalizing psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Knefel
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Internal Medicine, Landesklinikum Baden , Baden bei Wien, Austria.
| | - Thanos Karatzias
- School of Health & Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK; Rivers Centre for Traumatic Stress, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Mark Shevlin
- Ulster University, School of Psychology, Coleraine, UK
| | - Julian D Ford
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
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Wang Z, Luo C, Zhou EW, Sandhu AF, Yuan X, Williams GE, Cheng J, Sinha B, Akbar M, Bhattacharya P, Zhou S, Song BJ, Wang X. Molecular Toxicology and Pathophysiology of Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108805. [PMID: 37240148 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108805] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing comorbidity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious medical, economic, and social issue. However, the molecular toxicology and pathophysiological mechanisms of comorbid AUD and PTSD are not well understood and the identification of the comorbidity state markers is significantly challenging. This review summarizes the main characteristics of comorbidity between AUD and PTSD (AUD/PTSD) and highlights the significance of a comprehensive understanding of the molecular toxicology and pathophysiological mechanisms of AUD/PTSD, particularly following TBI, with a focus on the role of metabolomics, inflammation, neuroendocrine, signal transduction pathways, and genetic regulation. Instead of a separate disease state, a comprehensive examination of comorbid AUD and PTSD is emphasized by considering additive and synergistic interactions between the two diseases. Finally, we propose several hypotheses of molecular mechanisms for AUD/PTSD and discuss potential future research directions that may provide new insights and translational application opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zufeng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Chengliang Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Edward W Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aaron F Sandhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yuan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - George E Williams
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jialu Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bharati Sinha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mohammed Akbar
- Division of Neuroscience & Behavior, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Pallab Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar 382355, Gujarat, India
| | - Shuanhu Zhou
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Byoung-Joon Song
- Section of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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The evolution of PTSD symptoms in serving and ex-serving personnel of the UK armed forces from 2004 to 16: A longitudinal examination. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 157:18-25. [PMID: 36436424 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Whilst most military personnel do not develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ex-serving personnel exhibit higher levels compared to those in the military. The heterogeneity of symptom development for serving and ex-serving personnel has not yet been compared in the UK Armed Forces (UK AF). Latent class growth modelling was employed to estimate the trajectories of PTSD symptoms from three waves of data from the PTSD Checklist (PCL-C) from a UK AF sample (N = 7357). Regression mixture models were conducted to investigate covariates of class membership. Five trajectory classes were identified. Most of the sample reported no-low symptoms (71.3%). Of those reporting probable PTSD during the 12 year-period, 4.6% showed improvements, 4.9% worsened, and 1.8% displayed chronic symptoms. A class with subthreshold elevated symptoms (17.3%) was also identified. Trajectories of serving and ex-serving personnel were not substantially different, but more ex-serving personnel were symptomatic and those with chronic symptoms worsened over time. Chronic disorder was associated with lower rank, experiencing violent combat, and proximity to wounding/death on deployment. Worsening symptoms were associated with childhood stress/violence, lower rank, not being in a relationship, inconsistent post-deployment social support, proximity to wounding/death, and voluntary, or medical discharge. The present study found most UKAF personnel did not report PTSD symptoms between 2004 and 16 but, among those experiencing probable PTSD, more participants reported deteriorating/persistent symptoms than who improved. PTSD-onset was related to adversities across childhood and deployment, and lack of social support. Findings underscore the importance of addressing the through-life contributors of PTSD in order to prevent ingrained disorder.
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Karnick AT, Buerke M, Caulfied N, Trussell D, Capron DW, Vujanovic A. Alcohol use in firefighters: A network model of behaviors and transdiagnostic risk. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 241:109677. [PMID: 36334469 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109677] [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: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Firefighters are at heightened risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), possibly due to chronic stress and exposure to potentially traumatic events. Daily trauma experiences and transdiagnostic risk factors (i.e., anxiety sensitivity and distress intolerance) are related to posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms, as well as alcohol use severity and alcohol as a coping strategy. Although alcohol use has been identified as a key target for addressing mental health in firefighters, prior research has not fully integrated transdiagnostic vulnerabilities, internalizing symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, alcohol coping, and overall alcohol use into a dynamic network model. METHODS We assessed the symptom structure of overall alcohol use in firefighters with a likely AUD and transdiagnostic risk factors in all firefighters using network analysis. RESULTS Failing to meet expectations (Expected Influence [EI]: 1.32), morning dependence (EI: 1.07), and guilt about drinking (EI: 1.10) were most central to the network model developed for firefighters with a likely AUD. In a transdiagnostic model of use in firefighters overall, anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns (EI: 1.48) and negative alterations to cognitions and mood related to trauma (EI: 1.87) had the highest influence on the network. Notable correlations were also identified between trauma arousal and overall alcohol use, between depression and alcohol coping motives, and between trauma avoidance and alcohol coping motives. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol use behaviors may follow a unique etiologic pathway in firefighters and intervention strategies should target factors found to be more central to symptom networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr T Karnick
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, USA.
| | - Morgan Buerke
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, USA
| | - Nicole Caulfied
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, USA
| | - Dylan Trussell
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, USA
| | - Daniel W Capron
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, USA
| | - Anka Vujanovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
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Patel H, O'Connor C, Andrews K, Amlung M, Lanius R, McKinnon MC. Dissociative symptomatology mediates the relation between posttraumatic stress disorder severity and alcohol-related problems. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:289-299. [PMID: 35179786 PMCID: PMC9307004 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Up to 50% of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) endorse problematic alcohol use. Typically, these individuals present with more complex and often more severe PTSD symptoms than those who do not report problematic alcohol use. Emerging literature suggests that heightened symptoms of dissociation are likewise associated with greater PTSD symptom severity. Despite this knowledge, the role of dissociation in the relation between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems has yet to be examined. Here, we explore the mediating role of dissociative symptomatology on the association between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems within a PTSD treatment‐seeking sample. Methods Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediating role of dissociative symptomatology between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems. Participants [N = 334; mean age (SD) = 44.29 (9.77), 50% female] were drawn from a clinical intake battery database for PTSD in‐patient treatment services at Homewood Health Care, Guelph, ON, Canada. A subset of battery measures assessing PTSD severity, dissociative symptomatology, and alcohol‐related problems were submitted to analysis. Results A significant positive association emerged between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems (β = 0.127, p < 0.05) in the absence of dissociative symptomatology. Critically, however, when added to this model, dissociative symptomatology (six unique facets of dissociation assessed by the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory) mediated the relation between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems. Specifically, greater PTSD severity was associated with greater dissociative symptomatology (β = 0.566, p < 0.0001), which was in turn associated with greater alcohol‐related problems (β = 0.184, p < 0.05). Conclusions These results suggest that dissociative symptomatology plays a key role in explaining the relation between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems. Future studies should examine the impact of targeting dissociative symptomatology specifically in treating individuals with PTSD who endorse alcohol‐related problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herry Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Krysta Andrews
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Amlung
- Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.,Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Ruth Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret C McKinnon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Mental Health and Addictions Program, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Spikol E, Robinson M, McGlinchey E, Ross J, Armour C. Exploring complex-PTSD comorbidity in trauma-exposed Northern Ireland veterans. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2046953. [PMID: 35386731 PMCID: PMC8979541 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2046953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) describes the results of complex, prolonged, and/or inescapable trauma, and is typified by avoidance, re-experiencing, sense of threat, affect dysregulation, negative self-concept, and interpersonal disturbances. Additionally, CPTSD is highly comorbid with other common psychopathologies. OBJECTIVES A study was conducted in a trauma-exposed UK Armed Forces Veteran population resident in Northern Ireland (N = 638, NI) to determine the prevalence of CPTSD and comorbid associations. METHODS Data from the Northern Ireland Veterans Health and Wellbeing Study (NIVHWS), including self-report data describing traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality, were used in a latent class analysis to identify distinct profiles of symptomology in the sample, and in a multinomial logistic regression to identify comorbidities associated with class membership. RESULTS Three distinct classes emerged: a low endorsement 'baseline' class (36%), a 'Moderate Symptomatic' class (27%), and a high endorsement 'Probable CPTSD' class (37%). Both the Moderate Symptomatic and CPTSD classes were predicted by cumulative trauma exposure. Depression was highly comorbid (OR = 23.06 in CPTSD), as was anxiety (OR = 22.05 in CPTSD) and suicidal ideation (OR = 4.32 in CPTSD), with suicidal attempt associated with the CPTSD class (OR = 2.51). CONCLUSIONS Cases of probable CPTSD were more prevalent than cases of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) without Difficulties in Self-Organisation (DSO) symptoms in a UK Armed Forces veteran sample, were associated with repeated/cumulative trauma, and were highly comorbid across a range of psychopathologies. Findings validate previous literature on CPTSD and indicate considerable distress and thus need for support in UK Armed Forces veterans resident in NI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Spikol
- Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Martin Robinson
- Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Emily McGlinchey
- Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Jana Ross
- Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Cherie Armour
- Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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