Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 36, Issue 2 , Pages 220-226, March 2009

Can emotion-focused coping help explain the link between posttraumatic stress disorder severity and triggers for substance use in young adults?

  • Petra K. Staiger, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Deakin University, School of Psychology, Burwood 3125, Victoria, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 92446876; fax: +61 3 92446858.
    • ,
  • Fritha Melville, M.Psych. (Clin.)

      Affiliations

    • School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
    • ,
  • Leanne Hides, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • ORYGEN Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
    • ,
  • Nicolas Kambouropoulos, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
    • ,
  • Dan I. Lubman, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • ORYGEN Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia

Received 24 December 2007; received in revised form 26 April 2008; accepted 5 May 2008. published online 28 July 2008.

Abstract 

High rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported among people seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), although few studies have examined the relationship between PTSD and substance use in young drug users. This study compared levels of substance use, coping styles, and high-risk triggers for substance use among 66 young adults with SUD, with or without comorbid PTSD. Young people with current SUD–PTSD (n = 36) reported significantly higher levels of substance use in negative situations, as well as emotion-focused coping, compared to the current SUD-only group (n = 30). Severity of PTSD was a significant predictor of negative situational drug use, and emotion-focused coping was found to mediate this relationship. The findings underscore the need for youth substance abuse treatment programs to include coping skills training and management of affect regulation for those individuals with comorbid SUD–PTSD.

Keywords: Substance use disorders, Trauma, PTSD, IDTS, Emotion-focused coping, Young adults

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PII: S0740-5472(08)00085-8

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2008.05.008

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 36, Issue 2 , Pages 220-226, March 2009

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