Emotional reactivity across individuals with varying trauma and substance dependence histories

Abstract

Background: Research has reported a high rate of substance dependence in traumatized individuals who do not develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (TWP, trauma without exposure to PTSD). While past studies have failed to consistently demonstrate that TWP individuals experience PTSD symptoms, findings have indicated that TWP and a history of substance dependence (SDH, substance dependence history) aside from nicotine dependence are linked to affect disruption.

Aims: The present study explored positive and negative affective mechanisms across four groups with varying SDH and TWP including TWP + SDH, TWP only, SDH only, or no history. Researchers hypothesized that adults (n = 78) would be more emotionally reactive to an experimentally induced negative mood compared to a neutral mood induction as the presence of co-existing TWP and SDH increased.

Method: After a brief telephone screening, eligible participants completed baseline self-report questionnaires and experimentally manipulated negative and neutral mood inductions.

Results: Most notably, results showed a significant TWP × SDH × Mood induction interaction (F (1, 63) = 4.154; Mse = 51.999; p = .046) for positive affect responses. Simple effects indicated that all participants except TWP + SDH individuals experienced a significant decrease in positive affect during the negative compared to the neutral mood condition.

Conclusion: Findings may identify a protective mechanism for relapse among individuals with a history of both TWP and SDH.

Keywords:

• affect
• cue reactivity
• substance dependence
• trauma

Acknowledgements

Current research was supported in part by a grant from NIH (DA00467) received by Dr. McChargue.