Consistency of retrospective reports of DSM-IV Criterion A traumatic stressors among substance use disorder patients

• Published in: Journal of traumatic stress Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 43 - 51
• Main Authors: Ouimette, Paige, Read, Jennifer, Brown, Pamela J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2005; Wiley
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Stress, Psychological; Substance-Related Disorders - complications; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Wounds and Injuries; Human; Drug addiction; Fidelity; Posttraumatic syndrome; Abuse; Self evaluation; Illicit drug; Anxiety disorder; Victimization; Stress; Retrospective; Alcoholic beverage; Symptomatology; Life events; Addiction; Follow up study; Young adult; Dependence; Adult; Evolution; Predictive factor; Antecedent; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0894-9867; 1573-6598
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.20009

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among substance use disorder (SUD) patients. Although Criterion A trauma is critical to the formulation of a PTSD diagnosis, little research has examined the reliability of retrospective reports of such stressors and factors that affect reporting among these patients. This study examined these issues among SUD patients. Participants (N = 120) were assessed by interviews and questionnaires after entering inpatient SUD treatment and at a 6‐month follow‐up. About 40% of participants met criteria for a current PTSD diagnosis. Results revealed moderate stability of Criterion A trauma reports, which improved when Criterion A requirements were relaxed (i.e., participants were required to report the stressor but not the Criteria A1 and A2). Intrusive symptoms were associated with increased stressor reporting over time, whereas numbing symptoms and SUD abstinence were associated with decreased stressor reporting over time. Dissociative symptoms were associated with changes in reporting in either direction.