Drug use and validity of substance use self-reports in veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder.
The present study assessed drug use and the validity of self-reports of substance use among help-seeking veterans referred to a specialty clinic for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients (n = 341) were asked to provide a urine sample for use in drug screening as part of an evaluation of PTSD. Self-reports of substance use were compared with same-day supervised urine samples for 317 patients who volunteered to participate in a drug screening. Results suggested that self-reports were generally quite valid. Only 8% of the cases involved patients not reporting substance use detected by urine screens. A total of 42% of the participants were identified as using drugs of abuse (excluding alcohol) through self-report and urine drug screens. Among participants using drugs, PTSD diagnosis was significantly associated with greater marijuana and depressant use as compared with stimulant (cocaine and amphetamines) use.
Calhoun
P S
PS
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, and Health Services Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. calho002@mc.duke.edu
Sampson
W S
WS
Bosworth
H B
HB
Feldman
M E
ME
Kirby
A C
AC
Hertzberg
M A
MA
Wampler
T P
TP
Tate-Williams
F
F
Moore
S D
SD
Beckham
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000652:urine; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000652:urine; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000652:urine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000652:urine; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012650:Self Disclosure; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
D002186:Cannabinoids; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs