Citation

Hruska B, Pacella-LaBarbara ML, George RL, Delahanty DL. J. Psychoactive Drugs 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Haight-Ashbury Publications in association with the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic)

DOI

10.1080/02791072.2023.2200780

PMID

37031432

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamic relationships between daily PTSD symptom severity (PTSS), cognitive and behavioral avoidance coping, and negative drinking consequences following recent injury. Participants consisted of 36 injury survivors (M(age) = 34.0, SD = 10.8; 75.0% male; 69.4% White) who completed thrice daily assessments of PTSS, avoidance coping, and negative drinking consequences for 7 days at 6-weeks post-injury. Although hypothesized relationships were not statistically significant in full models with covariates that included alcohol consumption, the confidence intervals associated with focal predictors provided support for predictions. Follow-up analyses without covariates indicated that on occasions when an injury survivor engaged in more avoidance coping and experienced higher levels of PTSS, negative drinking consequences increased by 9% (b = 0.02, SE = 0.01, p = .006). This interaction was primarily driven by cognitive avoidance coping (b = 0.03, SE = 0.01, p = .008). Routine screening of avoidance coping, PTSS, and alcohol consumption in the aftermath of recent injury might assist with identifying survivors at risk for negative drinking consequences. Interventions that address cognitive avoidance coping and drinking among survivors experiencing elevated PTSS may help to prevent the development of this comorbidity.

Language: en

Keywords

injury; alcohol; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); avoidance coping; Ecological momentary assessment