Profiles of Distress Intolerance in a Substance-Dependent Sample

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Distress intolerance (DI) - the perceived inability to tolerate distressing states - is an important variable in substance abuse, with links to coping motives and return to use following a quit attempt. Recent research suggests that DI is a heterogeneous construct that varies based on the domain of distress (e.g., pain, anxiety). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether elevations in DI in substance-dependent (SD) patients varied based on the domain of distress. METHODS: Individuals (N = 55) with a diagnosis of illicit drug dependence and an affective disorder equated comparison (CO) group were administered three measures of DI - assessing pain, frustration, and respiratory discomfort. RESULTS: The SD group demonstrated significantly greater frustration intolerance, but not greater pain intolerance or respiratory discomfort intolerance relative to the CO group. CONCLUSION: When controlling for the presence of an affective disorder, SD patients exhibited elevated frustration intolerance, suggesting that this may be a particularly difficult type of distress for this group. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: DI is linked to important clinical outcomes and can be modified with treatment. Identification of intolerance of specific domains of distress associated with select disorders may help to better target such interventions.