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Pain Intensity, Pain-Related Anxiety, and Hazardous Drinking Among Individuals With PTSD
Sarah E Polhill1, Emma C Lape2, Alexa G Deyo2
1Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA.
Journal of Dual Diagnosis
|February 26, 2024
Summary
Pain-related anxiety links pain intensity to hazardous drinking and PTSD symptoms. This suggests anxiety management may help individuals with both conditions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Comorbidity of chronic pain, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and hazardous drinking is a significant clinical challenge.
- Pain intensity is hypothesized to be indirectly associated with hazardous drinking and PTSD symptom severity through pain-related anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mediating role of pain-related anxiety in the relationship between pain intensity and hazardous drinking, alcohol dependence, alcohol-related problems, and PTSD symptom severity.
- To test the hypothesis that pain-related anxiety acts as a crucial link between pain and adverse alcohol-related outcomes in individuals with PTSD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 371 heavy drinkers with probable PTSD was recruited.
- Statistical analyses, including linear regression and conditional process models, were employed to examine indirect associations.
Main Results:
- Pain intensity was significantly and indirectly associated with hazardous drinking, alcohol dependence, alcohol-related problems, and PTSD symptom severity.
- This indirect association was mediated by increased levels of pain-related anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Pain-related anxiety appears to be a key factor connecting pain experiences with hazardous alcohol consumption patterns in individuals with probable PTSD.
- Findings suggest that interventions targeting pain-related anxiety could be beneficial for managing comorbid pain, PTSD, and hazardous drinking.
- Further research is warranted to establish causality and explore therapeutic applications.
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