PTSD and substance-related problems: the mediating roles of disconstraint and negative emotionality.
The authors examined competing hypotheses regarding the role of 2 personality dimensions, disconstraint and negative emotionality, in mediating the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and substance-related problems. Data were drawn from a large sample of male Vietnam veterans. The best-fitting structural model included significant indirect paths from PTSD to both alcohol- and drug-related outcomes through disconstraint, and a significant indirect path from PTSD to alcohol-related problems through negative emotionality. There were no direct effects of PTSD on either substance-related outcome. These findings indicate distinct pathways to different forms of substance-related problems in PTSD and underscore the role of personality in mediating these relationships.
Miller
Mark W
MW
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA. mark.miller5@va.gov
Vogt
Dawne S
DS
Mozley
Susannah L
SL
Kaloupek
Danny G
DG
Keane
Terence M
TM
D000339:Affect; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*