Impulsivity as a mediating factor in the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and substance use.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with heightened impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors, including higher rates of substance use than individuals without PTSD. Although a number of studies suggest that impulsivity is associated with substance use in PTSD, the specific role of impulsivity in this common pattern of comorbidity remains unclear. The current study investigated associations between PTSD symptoms, substance use patterns, and impulsivity in a sample of adults.

Method

A total of 2,967 participants were recruited online through Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Participants who did not report at least one Criterion A traumatic event on the Brief Trauma Questionnaire were excluded. The remaining 1,609 trauma-exposed individuals were placed into

SUBMITTER: Morris VL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9068278 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature