Depression and substance use: The CES-D's utility in predicting treatment outcomes in a longitudinal multi-site study of residential treatment centers

Investigating the effects of emotion dysregulation and repetitive negative thinking on alcohol hangover anxiety and depression

INTRODUCTION

Underlying factors associated with alcohol hangover psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, have not been identified. Emotion dysregulation and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) are transdiagnostic factors associated with psychopathology, including non-hangover anxiety and depression. The current study prospectively examined the role of emotion dysregulation on subsequent alcohol hangover anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as the moderating role of RNT on this relation among university students.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-six participants completed baseline assessments of emotion dysregulation (DERS-16) and non-hangover anxiety and depression (DASS-21). Thirty-nine participants reported experiencing alcohol hangover at 2-week follow up and completed assessments of RNT (PTQ) and hangover anxiety and depression (modified DASS-21). Two independent regression-based moderation analyses were conducted to examine the relation of baseline emotion dysregulation, 2-week follow-up RNT, and hangover anxiety and depression symptoms after accounting for baseline non-hangover anxiety and depression symptoms.

RESULTS

Among those experiencing alcohol hangover (n = 39), emotion dysregulation and RNT were not associated with hangover related anxiety beyond non-hangover anxiety. Emotion dysregulation significantly predicted hangover depression but was rendered non-significant by the addition of RNT, which was significantly associated with hangover depression. RNT moderated the emotion dysregulation-hangover depression relation such that emotion dysregulation was not associated with future hangover depression at low levels of RNT but was positively associated with hangover depression at moderate to high levels of RNT.

CONCLUSION

Results provide preliminary support for the role of emotion dysregulation and RNT in hangover depression severity.

Residential substance use treatment outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women: Distinct patterns for women enrolled before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Substance use among pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) is a serious public health concern. The COVID‐19 pandemic has exacerbated substance use among the general population including pregnant women, and disrupted operations for substance use treatment centers. Little is known about the outcomes of substance use treatment for PPW before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Method

Data from a longitudinal program evaluation were analyzed to examine outcomes among 136 PPW participating in a residential SUD treatment program, and to explore differences in treatment outcomes for women who enrolled in services before versus during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Analyses were used to test the significance of change from treatment intake to 6‐month post‐intake on assessments of substance use, mental health symptoms, and functioning collected to evaluate the Healthy Families Program (HFP), a comprehensive program for PPW located within a gender‐specific SUD treatment facility in the United States.

Results

Results indicated that from treatment intake to follow‐up assessment, clients self‐reported statistically significant improvements in family functioning and daily functioning as well as reduced days of substance use. Notably, the rate of treatment intakes declined during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In separate analyses by subgroup, mental health indicators showed improvements only for clients engaged in treatment before the COVID‐19 pandemic and not for clients served during the COVID‐19 pandemic, but substance use decreased significantly for both pre‐pandemic and pandemic enrollees.

Conclusion

Specialized treatment considerations and implications for PPW are discussed, including a need for added emphasis on co‐occurring mental health symptoms and family system stress during a pandemic, and the role of nurses in identifying and addressing these concerns. Additionally, potential relapse prevention efforts during COVID‐19 for PPW with substance use disorders are examined.

Clinical Relevance

The present research continues to highlight the importance of specialized treatment programming for PPW with SUDs as well as the potential need for additional recovery support mechanisms to be utilized during the COVID‐19 pandemic.