The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity in Reactivity to Trauma Cues in Treatment-Seeking Adults with Substance Use Disorders

Exposure to traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Although the presence of trauma exposure and/or PTSD among those with SUDs is associated with a range of negative outcomes, much remains to be understood about the factors contributing to these outcomes. Anxiety sensitivity (the tendency to respond fearfully to the signs and symptoms of anxiety) has been linked to greater PTSD symptoms and the use of substances to cope with PTSD symptoms, and is a promising factor for understanding the negative outcomes associated with co-occurring PTSD and SUDs.
Source: Comprehensive Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research