Negative Urgency Amplifies Alcohol Demand in Individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study sought to test whether negative urgency moderates the relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and alcohol demand.

In this secondary data analysis, participants (N=101; 58.2% female) completed an online procedure which included, a trauma cue manipulation (expressive writing exercise), pre- and post-cue versions of the Alcohol Purchase Task (APT, measuring alcohol demand), and self-report measures of trauma history, alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms. Five indices of alcohol demand data were calculated: intensity, breakpoint, O_max, P_max, and elasticity. Participants were grouped based on PTSD symptom severity (PTSD vs. No PTSD). Path analyses were used to examine negative urgency as a moderator of the association between PTSD and each index of alcohol demand.

Negative urgency was a significant moderator for intensity, breakpoint, O_max, and P_max, such that high negative urgency in the PTSD group was associated with greater alcohol demand post- trauma cue controlling for pre-cue demand. In contrast, low negative urgency in the PTSD group was associated with lower intensity and P_max post-cue controlling for pre-cue ratings.

Individuals with PTSD and high negative urgency value alcohol more in the context of trauma-cue elicited negative affect. Trait-levels of negative urgency are important for identifying those with PTSD who are at greatest risk for problematic alcohol use and impulsive decision making in the context of a trauma cue.