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The relationship between substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder in a methadone maintenance treatment program.
Compr Psychiatry. 2011 Sep-Oct; 52(5):562-6.CP

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently linked with substance abuse. The self-medication hypothesis suggests that some people may use illicit substances in an attempt to self-treat psychiatric symptoms. This study explores the relationship between substance abuse and PTSD symptom clusters in a methadone maintenance population.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Clients of a methadone maintenance program at a public Drug and Alcohol Service were invited to complete the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, a screening tool for PTSD. Information about their history of substance use was also collected.

RESULTS

Eighty clients (43 female, 37 male), aged 35 ± 8.0 years (mean ± SD), participated in the study, of which 52.7% screened positive for PTSD. Severity of marijuana use was significantly associated with a number of reexperiencing and hyperarousal symptoms and with overall severity of PTSD symptoms. Opiate, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine use did not appear to be related to PTSD symptoms.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

In this sample, marijuana may be used to self-treat certain PTSD symptoms, supporting the self-medication hypothesis. Further research is required to confirm the association between a diagnosis of PTSD and substance use. Given the high prevalence of PTSD in the substance-using population, routine PTSD screening in the substance abuse treatment setting may be justified.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Villagonzalo KA
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, PO Box 281, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
Dodd S
No affiliation info available
Ng F
No affiliation info available
Mihaly S
No affiliation info available
Langbein A
No affiliation info available
Berk M
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAnalgesics, OpioidCannabisComorbidityDiagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFemaleHumansMaleMethadoneSelf MedicationSelf ReportSeverity of Illness IndexStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticSubstance-Related Disorders

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

21109242

Citation

Villagonzalo, Kristi-Ann, et al. "The Relationship Between Substance Use and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program." Comprehensive Psychiatry, vol. 52, no. 5, 2011, pp. 562-6.
Villagonzalo KA, Dodd S, Ng F, et al. The relationship between substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder in a methadone maintenance treatment program. Compr Psychiatry. 2011;52(5):562-6.
Villagonzalo, K. A., Dodd, S., Ng, F., Mihaly, S., Langbein, A., & Berk, M. (2011). The relationship between substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder in a methadone maintenance treatment program. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 52(5), 562-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.10.001
Villagonzalo KA, et al. The Relationship Between Substance Use and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program. Compr Psychiatry. 2011 Sep-Oct;52(5):562-6. PubMed PMID: 21109242.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - The relationship between substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder in a methadone maintenance treatment program. AU - Villagonzalo,Kristi-Ann, AU - Dodd,Seetal, AU - Ng,Felicity, AU - Mihaly,Stephen, AU - Langbein,Amy, AU - Berk,Michael, Y1 - 2010/12/15/ PY - 2010/06/29/received PY - 2010/10/05/revised PY - 2010/10/11/accepted PY - 2010/11/27/entrez PY - 2010/11/27/pubmed PY - 2011/12/24/medline SP - 562 EP - 6 JF - Comprehensive psychiatry JO - Compr Psychiatry VL - 52 IS - 5 N2 - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently linked with substance abuse. The self-medication hypothesis suggests that some people may use illicit substances in an attempt to self-treat psychiatric symptoms. This study explores the relationship between substance abuse and PTSD symptom clusters in a methadone maintenance population. DESIGN AND METHODS: Clients of a methadone maintenance program at a public Drug and Alcohol Service were invited to complete the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, a screening tool for PTSD. Information about their history of substance use was also collected. RESULTS: Eighty clients (43 female, 37 male), aged 35 ± 8.0 years (mean ± SD), participated in the study, of which 52.7% screened positive for PTSD. Severity of marijuana use was significantly associated with a number of reexperiencing and hyperarousal symptoms and with overall severity of PTSD symptoms. Opiate, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine use did not appear to be related to PTSD symptoms. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, marijuana may be used to self-treat certain PTSD symptoms, supporting the self-medication hypothesis. Further research is required to confirm the association between a diagnosis of PTSD and substance use. Given the high prevalence of PTSD in the substance-using population, routine PTSD screening in the substance abuse treatment setting may be justified. SN - 1532-8384 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21109242/abstract L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0010-440X(10)00168-9 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -