Emotional Regulation in People With Co-occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorder

NCT05531318 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Bowen2022
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this project is to look at emotional regulation in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). This study will explore how people with PTSD-SUD regulate their emotions and how this might explain the relationship between these two disorders. In turn, this may inform effective treatment strategies for people with comorbid PTSD-SUD. Emotional regulation refers to the way in which people process and respond to their emotions. PTSD and SUD commonly cooccur and this is associated with adverse outcomes including high rates of relapse, overdose, and suicide. We therefore need effective treatments to address this clinical concern. Evidence suggests emotional regulation might be important in the development and maintenance of PTSD and SUD and therefore it might be a useful target for treatment. However, most research in this area has been quantitative and has not considered how gender, social circumstances and trauma or substance type might affect the way people regulate their emotions. This study will recruit 40 adults with trauma histories and PTSD who are currently receiving treatment in a community drug and alcohol service for their substance use. Participants will be interviewed to explore how they regulate their emotions and how this relates to their social circumstances. This study will also explore whether gender, substance or trauma type affect the way people regulate their emotions. We hope this will help to improve treatment for people with PTSD and SUD.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Substance Use Disorders; Emotional Regulation

Keywords

PTSD; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Substance Use Disorders; Trauma; Emotional regulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Qualitative interview accounts

  Semi-structured interviews will be used

  November 2022 - October 2024

Interventions

Qualitative Interview OTHER

Participants will be interviewed about their experiences of substance use, post-traumatic stress and the way they regulate their emotions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A sample of approximately 40 people with posttraumatic stress disorder who are accessing substance use services in the community will be recruited and interviewed.

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18+
• Receiving treatment from a community substance use service at the time of the study.
• Experienced, witnessed or been confronted with at least one traumatic event (according to PTSD Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5) (PDS-5) (Foa, 2016).
• Participant endorses at least 3 PTSD symptoms from criterion B-E, measured using the PDS-5.
• Able to communicate and understand English sufficiently to engage in a qualitative interview.

You may not qualify if:

• Staff recommend the individual should not take part in the study
• The individual is unable to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King's College London: lead
• Society for the Study of Addiction: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

National Addiction Centre

London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Foa EB, McLean CP, Zang Y, Zhong J, Powers MB, Kauffman BY, Rauch S, Porter K, Knowles K. Psychometric properties of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5). Psychol Assess. 2016 Oct;28(10):1166-1171. doi: 10.1037/pas0000258. Epub 2015 Dec 21.

  PMID: 26691504 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Substance-Related Disorders; Emotional Regulation; Wounds and Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Self-Control; Social Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2022
• First Posted: September 7, 2022
• Study Start: June 7, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 9, 2024
• Study Completion: July 9, 2024
• Last Updated: May 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)