Traumatic Event Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress, and Substance Use Among Youth: A Critical Review of the Empirical Literature

This study investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on Korean journalists and the contributing variables. Predicting variables included the exposure to traumatic events, coping strategy, social support, optimism, negative beliefs, and the journalists’ occupational perspectives. A total of 367 Korean journalists participated in the survey. The findings revealed that, first, Korean journalists had suffered severely from PTSD symptoms according to the prevalence rate. Second, the extent of traumatic event exposure, the length of career, the use of dysfunctional coping strategy, a lack of social support, and negative beliefs were identified as significantly related variables. Finally, occupational perspectives showed meaningful associations with development of the symptoms. This study provided an empirical analysis of Korean journalists’ experiences of traumatic events and psychological stress for the first time.

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A Population-Based Study of Familial and Individual-Specific Environmental Contributions to Traumatic Event Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Norwegian Twin Sample

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2012.43 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 656-662 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Ananda B. Amstadter ◽

Steven H. Aggen ◽

Gun Peggy Knudsen ◽

Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud ◽

Kenneth S. Kendler

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Trauma Exposure ◽

Population Based ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Familial Factors ◽

Best Fitting ◽

Traumatic Event Exposure

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the only disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that requires an environmental exposure. The relationship between liability factors for trauma exposure and those for PTSD symptoms following exposure are unclear. Methods: Exposure to a trauma and resulting PTSD symptoms were assessed in a sample of 2,794 members of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel. Results: In the full sample, 737 twins experienced a trauma. A modified causal, contingent, common pathway model was used to examine trauma exposure and liability for PTSD. Genetic and common environmental factors could not be distinguished, so a model that included only familial and individual specific components was fit. The best-fitting model suggested that familial factors played an important role in liability for trauma exposure and for resulting PTSD symptoms, and that there was a modest transmission between trauma exposure and subsequent PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: One third of the variance in liability of PTSD symptoms is due to familial factors, and of this, approximately one fifth overlaps with the familial liability for trauma exposure while the other four fifths of the variance is specific to the risk of PTSD symptoms following exposure. The hypothesis that PTSD is etiologically similar to exposures to a traumatic event is not supported, suggesting that the factors that confer risk for trauma do not overlap completely with those that confer risk for PTSD.

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Potentially traumatic event exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and Axis I and II comorbidity in a population-based study of Norwegian young adults

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology ◽

10.1007/s00127-012-0537-2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 215-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Ananda B. Amstadter ◽

Steven H. Aggen ◽

Gun Peggy Knudsen ◽

Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud ◽

Kenneth S. Kendler

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Young Adults ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Axis I ◽

Traumatic Event Exposure

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Associations between posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use: a longitudinal investigation of individuals recently exposed to trauma

10.32920/ryerson.14644506.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sonya G. Wanklyn

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Substance Use ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) commonly cooccur following trauma, and their co-occurrence is associated with substantial costs; however, our understanding of the timing and sequencing of these posttrauma mental health conditions is limited. This study examined the trajectories of PTSD symptom severity and substance use among individuals recently exposed to a traumatic event, with a focus on the potential moderating roles of PTSD and SUD diagnoses at the final assessment. Additionally, in attempt to better understand the functional relationship between PTSD symptoms and substance use posttrauma, this study compared models reflecting the theories of self-medication, susceptibility, and mutual maintenance. Participants included 137 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event within 6 months prior to study enrollment. Participants completed four assessments over an approximate 1-year period that included clinician-administered measures for DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and SUD diagnosis and self-report measures of alcohol and drug use. Change over time in PTSD symptoms and substance use by diagnostic status were investigated using growth curve models. Temporal sequencing between PTSD symptom severity and substance use was investigated with bivariate latent difference score structural equation modeling. In line with the conceptualization of PTSD as a disorder of impeded recovery, having a diagnosis of PTSD at the final assessment moderated the trajectory of PTSD symptom severity such that symptom severity declined only among those without PTSD. In contrast, the influence of SUD appeared to be negligible. Both PTSD and SUD diagnoses were associated with initial drug use frequency. However, the relationship between alcohol use and diagnostic status did not reach statistical significance. Regarding temporal relationships between PTSD symptoms and substance use, significant and negative PTSD to change in substance use cross-lagged paths were found across most of the models, while only one significant substance use to change in PTSD severity crosslagged path emerged in the PTSD intrusion with alcohol use model. These results add to a growing body of research suggesting trauma-focused intervention is viable for individuals with PTSD/SUD. Further, examination of potential mediators and moderators of the relation between PTSD and SUD is recommended as a critical focus for future research.

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