Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
Drug use and validity of substance use self-reports in veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder
P S Calhoun1, W S Sampson, H B Bosworth
1Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, and Health Services Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. calho002@mc.duke.edu
Abstract:
The present study assessed drug use and the validity of self-reports of substance use among help-seeking veterans referred to a specialty clinic for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients (n = 341) were asked to provide a urine sample for use in drug screening as part of an evaluation of PTSD. Self-reports of substance use were compared with same-day supervised urine samples for 317 patients who volunteered to participate in a drug screening. Results suggested that self-reports were generally quite valid. Only 8% of the cases involved patients not reporting substance use detected by urine screens. A total of 42% of the participants were identified as using drugs of abuse (excluding alcohol) through self-report and urine drug screens. Among participants using drugs, PTSD diagnosis was significantly associated with greater marijuana and depressant use as compared with stimulant (cocaine and amphetamines) use.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...

