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Negative Urgency Amplifies Alcohol Demand in Individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Lauren R DiPaolo1, Tatiana D Magri2, Lidia Z Meshesha2
1Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Suite B228, MS 116, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
|May 29, 2026
Summary
Negative urgency significantly influences alcohol demand in individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). High negative urgency amplifies alcohol demand following trauma cues, while low negative urgency reduces it.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is frequently comorbid with alcohol use disorders.
- Negative urgency, a personality trait characterized by impulsive behavior during negative emotional states, may explain this comorbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether negative urgency moderates the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol demand.
- To understand how trauma cues affect alcohol demand in individuals with and without PTSD, considering negative urgency.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of 101 participants (58.2% female) who underwent a trauma cue manipulation (expressive writing).
- Alcohol demand was measured using the Alcohol Purchase Task (APT) pre- and post-cue.
- Path analyses examined negative urgency as a moderator of PTSD and alcohol demand indices (intensity, breakpoint, Omax, Pmax, elasticity).
Main Results:
- Negative urgency significantly moderated alcohol demand for intensity, breakpoint, Omax, and Pmax.
- In the PTSD group, high negative urgency correlated with increased alcohol demand post-trauma cue.
- Conversely, low negative urgency in the PTSD group was linked to lower intensity and Pmax post-cue.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with PTSD and high negative urgency exhibit greater alcohol valuation when experiencing trauma-related negative affect.
- Assessing trait negative urgency is crucial for identifying PTSD patients at higher risk for problematic alcohol use and impulsive decisions after trauma exposure.
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