Trauma exposure predicts alcohol, nicotine, and drug problems beyond the contribution of PTSD and depression in patients with cardiovascular disease: data from the Heart and Soul Study.

Background And Objectives: This study examined the role of lifetime trauma exposure in a longitudinal study of adults with cardiovascular disease to determine the unique contribution of trauma exposure to risk for drug and alcohol problems and smoking.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Heart and Soul Study, a prospective cohort study designed to determine the mechanisms of associations between psychological factors and increased risk of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients (n = 1,022).

Results: Lifetime exposure to a higher number of trauma types predicted substance use outcomes beyond risk explained by PTSD and depression.

Contingency management in community programs treating adolescent substance abuse: a feasibility study.

Problem: Adolescent substance abuse remains a public health problem, and more effective treatment approaches are needed.

Purpose: The study aims to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of implementing a cost-effective contingency management (CM) intervention in community substance abuse treatment for adolescents with marijuana use disorders.

Methods: Thirty-one adolescents with primary marijuana use disorder enrolled in a community treatment were randomized into either a prize-based CM intervention contingent when submitting negative urine drug screens (UDS) or a noncontingent control group.

Patterns and predictors of alcohol use in male and female urban police officers.

In a large sample of urban police officers, 18.1% of males and 15.9% of females reported experiencing adverse consequences from alcohol use and 7.

Community-dwelling cocaine-dependent men and women respond differently to social stressors versus cocaine cues.

Unlabelled: There are likely to be gender differences in determinants of relapse to drug use following abstinence in cocaine-dependent individuals. Cocaine-dependent women are more likely to attribute relapse to negative emotional states and interpersonal conflict. Cocaine dependence has also been linked to dysregulation of stress response and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis which may differ between genders.

Combat posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury.

Among both civilian and veteran populations, substance use disorders (SUDs) and anxiety disorders frequently co-occur. One of the most common comorbid anxiety disorder is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition which may develop after exposure to traumatic events, such as military combat. In comparison with the general population, rates of both SUDs and PTSD are elevated among veterans.

Prescription opioid aberrant behaviors: a pilot study of sex differences.

Objectives: Patients who are prescribed opioids often display 1 or more aberrant prescription use behaviors (eg, requesting early refills, borrowing medication from family), which raise concern among healthcare professionals. Little is known about the sex differences in specific types of aberrant behaviors or sex-specific predictors of such behaviors. The current study is aimed to begin addressing this gap in the literature.

Response to corticotropin-releasing hormone infusion in cocaine-dependent individuals.

Context: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), through the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and other brain stress systems, is involved in the emotional dysregulation associated with cocaine dependence. Little is known about the response of cocaine-dependent individuals to CRH administration.

Objective: The primary objective was to examine the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the subjective and physiologic response to CRH in cocaine-dependent individuals and controls.

Treatment challenges associated with comorbid substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder: clinicians' perspectives.

A significant proportion of individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) meet criteria for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This comorbidity confers a more complicated clinical presentation that carries with it formidable treatment challenges for practitioners. The current study examined sources of difficulty and gratification among clinicians (N = 423) from four national organizations who completed an anonymous questionnaire.

The influence of monetary compensation on relapse among addicted participants: empirical vs. anecdotal evidence.

Although common, the use of cash incentives to compensate drug-addicted participants is controversial. This is particularly true given concerns that cash incentives might precipitate relapse, as is commonly believed. The following investigation examined whether cash versus money order compensation differentially influenced drug use among 34 non-treatment-seeking, cocaine-dependent individuals.

Early life trauma and sensitivity to current life stressors in individuals with and without cocaine dependence.

This study investigated the link between exposure to early life trauma, sensitivity to current daily stressors, and cocaine dependence. Individuals with (n = 105) or without (n = 53) cocaine dependence completed the Early Trauma Inventory and the Daily Hassles Scale. In comparison to controls, cocaine-dependent individuals reported almost twice as many daily hassles and perceived those hassles more negatively (p < .

Effects of gender and cigarette smoking on reactivity to psychological and pharmacological stress provocation.

We examined the influence of gender and smoking status on reactivity in two human laboratory stress paradigms. Participants were 46 (21 men, 25 women) healthy individuals who completed the Trier Social Stress Task (i.e.

Differences in early onset alcohol use and heavy drinking among persons with childhood and adulthood trauma.

We examined predictors for age at onset of first alcohol use and onset of heaviest alcohol use among men (n = 43) and women (n = 46) with alcohol dependence and PTSD, PTSD only, alcohol dependence only, and controls, with a particular focus on individuals with child versus adult trauma. Using analysis of variance procedures, results showed differences in onset of first alcohol use and heaviest drinking between childhood and adulthood trauma victims. These preliminary results indicate that behavioral mechanisms associated with alcohol use patterns between individuals with childhood and adulthood trauma are dissimilar, suggesting greater psychopathological consequences for individuals with childhood trauma.

Sleep disturbances associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence.

Sleep disturbances commonly appear in the context of both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders. Sleep symptoms typically reported among clinical populations include delayed sleep onset, poor sleep continuity, early morning awakening, and disturbed sleep architecture. The aim of the present study was to examine multiple forms of sleep disturbances among individuals with comorbid PTSD and alcohol dependence, PTSD only, alcohol dependence only, and a control group.

Daily stressor sensitivity, abuse effects, and cocaine use in cocaine dependence.

This study highlights respondent sensitivity to daily hassles as it relates to situational cocaine use and perceived long-term effects of adverse events in childhood. Data were drawn from a larger study on stress reactivity in cocaine dependent individuals. Participants (n=104) were cocaine dependent men and women without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Randomized controlled evaluation of an early intervention to prevent post-rape psychopathology.

A randomized between-group design was used to evaluate the efficacy of a video intervention to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems, implemented prior to the forensic medical examination conducted within 72 h post-sexual assault. Participants were 140 female victims of sexual assault (68 video/72 nonvideo) aged 15 years or older. Assessments were targeted for 6 weeks (Time 1) and 6 months (Time 2) post-assault.

Triggers for cocaine and alcohol use in the presence and absence of posttraumatic stress disorder.

The present study compared high-risk triggers and substance use situations among 72 (34 men, 38 women) individuals with alcohol (AD) or cocaine dependence (CD), with or without comorbid PTSD. Consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, individuals with PTSD reported significantly greater use of substances in response to negative situations, such as unpleasant emotions and physical discomfort, as compared to individuals without PTSD. CD individuals were significantly more likely than AD individuals to report using in temptation situations, regardless of PTSD status.

The impact of alcohol dependence and posttraumatic stress disorder on cold pressor task response.

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly comorbid with alcohol-use disorders. Abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response are common in both disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate HPA axis reactivity to the cold pressor task (CPT) among individuals with alcohol dependence, PTSD, and comorbid alcohol dependence and PTSD.

Cold pressor task reactivity: predictors of alcohol use among alcohol-dependent individuals with and without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background: The association between stress and alcohol dependence has been well established. Abnormalities in stress reactivity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function may be involved in the mechanistic connection between stress and the initiation, development, and/or maintenance of alcohol dependence. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occurs with alcohol dependence and is characterized by HPA axis abnormalities.

PTSD and the HPA axis: differences in response to the cold pressor task among individuals with child vs. adult trauma.

Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and subjective stress response to a cold-water immersion task, the cold pressor task (CPT), in individuals (N=89) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined. All tests were conducted at 08:00h after an overnight hospital stay. Plasma adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and subjective stress were examined at baseline and five post-task time points in controls (n=31), subjects with PTSD as a result of an index trauma during childhood (i.

Subthreshold PTSD in primary care: prevalence, psychiatric disorders, healthcare use, and functional status.

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its association with specific traumas, other psychiatric diagnoses, healthcare use, and functional status among 669 veterans in four VA Medical Centers. A cross-sectional, epidemiological design incorporating self-report measures, structured interviews, and chart reviews was used to obtain relevant information for analyses. Comparisons across three trauma-exposed groups (PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, no PTSD) revealed that veterans in the subthreshold PTSD group did not use mental health services more often than those in the no PTSD group despite the presence of additional mental health diagnoses and worse functional status.

Community outreach program for child victims of traumatic events: a community-based project for underserved populations.

Behavioral and cognitive behavioral treatment interventions have been shown to be effective for the treatment of trauma-related problems in children. However, many children and families in need of treatment do not have adequate access to services and do not have access to effective, evidence-based treatment services. The present article describes a community-based program that provides in-home and in-school treatment services, based on behavioral and cognitive behavioral approaches to addressing trauma-related emotional and behavioral problems in children.

Participation in trauma research: is there evidence of harm?

Few studies have examined the impact of trauma research participation upon trauma survivors. Empirical data regarding reactions to research participation would be very useful to address the question of whether it is harmful for trauma survivors to participate in trauma studies. We examined participant reactions to different trauma assessment procedures in domestic violence (N = 260), rape (N = 108), and physical assault (N = 62) samples.