Predicting Reasons for Drinking in a Dually-Diagnosed Sample with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) present complex treatment challenges.
• Understanding the specific reasons for drinking (RFD) is crucial for effective interventions in dually diagnosed individuals.
• Anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, and impulsivity are potential factors influencing RFD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, impulsivity, and RFD in a residential treatment sample with AUD-PTSD.
• To investigate demographic differences within this sample.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-five adults with AUD-PTSD in residential treatment completed self-report measures.
• Measures included anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, impulsivity, RFD, and AUD-PTSD symptom severity.
• Regression analyses were performed, controlling for demographic variables.

Main Results:

• The urgency facets of impulsivity were positively associated with negative affect and cue/craving RFD.
• These associations remained significant after controlling for demographics and PTSD symptom severity.
• No significant relationships were found between anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, and RFD domains.

Conclusions:

• Urgency facets of impulsivity are important predictors of drinking for negative affect and craving relief in AUD-PTSD.
• Anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance do not appear to be related to RFD in this specific dually diagnosed population.
• Findings inform targeted treatment strategies for individuals with co-occurring AUD and PTSD.