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The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Depress Anxiety. 2010 Aug; 27(8):731-6.DA

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Self-medication has been proposed as an explanation for the high rates of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders; however, knowledge of self-medication in PTSD is scarce. We describe the prevalence and correlates of self-medication in PTSD in the general population.

METHODS

Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave 2 (N=34,653; response rate: 70.2%), a nationally representative survey of mental illness in community-dwelling adults. Self-medication was assessed separately for alcohol and drugs. Prevalence rates were determined for self-medication among individuals with DSM-IV PTSD. Regression analyses determined associations between self-medication and a variety of correlates, including sociodemographic factors, comorbid mental disorders, suicide attempts, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Approximately 20% of individuals with PTSD used substances in an attempt to relieve their symptoms. Men were significantly more likely than women to engage in self-medication behavior. In adjusted models, using illicit drugs or misusing prescription medications to control PTSD symptoms was associated with a substantially higher likelihood of dysthymia and borderline personality disorder. After controlling for mental disorder comorbidity, self-medication was independently associated with higher odds of suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio=2.46; 95% confidence interval 1.53-3.97) and lower mental health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-medication is a common behavior among people with PTSD in the community, yet has potentially hazardous consequences. Health care practitioners should assess reasons for substance use among people with PTSD to identify a subgroup with higher psychiatric morbidity.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Leeies M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Pagura J
No affiliation info available
Sareen J
No affiliation info available
Bolton JM
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAgedAged, 80 and overAlcohol DrinkingBorderline Personality DisorderComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesDysthymic DisorderFemaleHealth SurveysHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedOdds RatioQuality of LifeSelf MedicationStatistics as TopicStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticSubstance-Related DisordersYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

20186981

Citation

Leeies, Murdoch, et al. "The Use of Alcohol and Drugs to Self-medicate Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." Depression and Anxiety, vol. 27, no. 8, 2010, pp. 731-6.
Leeies M, Pagura J, Sareen J, et al. The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(8):731-6.
Leeies, M., Pagura, J., Sareen, J., & Bolton, J. M. (2010). The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 27(8), 731-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20677
Leeies M, et al. The Use of Alcohol and Drugs to Self-medicate Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(8):731-6. PubMed PMID: 20186981.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. AU - Leeies,Murdoch, AU - Pagura,Jina, AU - Sareen,Jitender, AU - Bolton,James M, PY - 2010/2/27/entrez PY - 2010/2/27/pubmed PY - 2010/12/29/medline SP - 731 EP - 6 JF - Depression and anxiety JO - Depress Anxiety VL - 27 IS - 8 N2 - BACKGROUND: Self-medication has been proposed as an explanation for the high rates of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders; however, knowledge of self-medication in PTSD is scarce. We describe the prevalence and correlates of self-medication in PTSD in the general population. METHODS: Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave 2 (N=34,653; response rate: 70.2%), a nationally representative survey of mental illness in community-dwelling adults. Self-medication was assessed separately for alcohol and drugs. Prevalence rates were determined for self-medication among individuals with DSM-IV PTSD. Regression analyses determined associations between self-medication and a variety of correlates, including sociodemographic factors, comorbid mental disorders, suicide attempts, and quality of life. RESULTS: Approximately 20% of individuals with PTSD used substances in an attempt to relieve their symptoms. Men were significantly more likely than women to engage in self-medication behavior. In adjusted models, using illicit drugs or misusing prescription medications to control PTSD symptoms was associated with a substantially higher likelihood of dysthymia and borderline personality disorder. After controlling for mental disorder comorbidity, self-medication was independently associated with higher odds of suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio=2.46; 95% confidence interval 1.53-3.97) and lower mental health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Self-medication is a common behavior among people with PTSD in the community, yet has potentially hazardous consequences. Health care practitioners should assess reasons for substance use among people with PTSD to identify a subgroup with higher psychiatric morbidity. SN - 1520-6394 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/20186981/The_use_of_alcohol_and_drugs_to_self_medicate_symptoms_of_posttraumatic_stress_disorder_ L2 - https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20677 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -