Posttraumatic stress disorder among substance users from the general population
Abstract
Objective The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among substance users in the general population. Method The St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, a survey of psychiatric illness in the general population, collected data on PTSD and substance use with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Among the 2,663 respondents, 430 reported a traumatic event that could qualify for PTSD; however, the rate of PTSD was low, 1.35% overall. To evaluate the relationship between PTSD and substance use, respondents were hierarchically classified into one of four substance use categories ranging from polydrug use to alcohol use only. Substance users from each category as well as substance users in general were compared with persons who did not meet the substance use threshold (comparison subjects). Results Findings indicate that cocaine/opiate users are over three times as likely as comparison subjects to report a traumatic event, report more symptoms and events, and are more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Physical attack, but not combat-related events, was the most prevalent event reported among cocaine/opiate users. Onset of substance use preceded onset of posttraumatic symptoms, suggesting that substance use predisposes the individual to exposure to traumatic events. When other variables--including antisocial behavior--were controlled, female gender and use of cocaine/opiates predicted PTSD. Conclusions These analyses…
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With illicit drugs, procurement and use can predispose individuals to traumatic stress.
“With illicit drugs, their procurement and use can predispose individuals to traumatic stress [183,184].”
From Food Addiction and Psychosocial Adversity: Biological Embedding, Contextual Factors, and Public Health Implications (2020) · cites this paper as [184]
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- Authors
- Cottler, L. B., Compton, W. M., MAGER, D. E., Spitznagel, E. L., & Janča, A.
- Affiliations
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Psychiatry
- Published
- 1992-05-01
- Volume
- 149
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 664-670
- ISSN
- 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
- 1535-7228
- OpenAlex
- W94898649
- Cited by
- 479
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 11.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA06163, R18DA006163, DA-05619, DA05585)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, cocaine use, opiate use, traumatic events, physical assault, prevalence, antisocial behavior, gender differences
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Catchment Area, Health, Cocaine, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Missouri, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Prevalence, Substance-Related Disorders
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