The Association Between Negative Trauma ‐Related Cognitions and Pain‐Related Functional Status Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

AbstractAmong veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent. Furthermore, PTSD frequently co ‐occurs with chronic pain (CP), and CP is associated with an increased risk of AUD. Pain‐related beliefs and appraisals are significantly associated with poorer pain‐related functional status, yet few studies have examined negative trauma‐related cognitions and their impact on pain‐related functional disability in veterans with co‐occurring PTSD and AUD. Accordingly, we examined the association between negative trauma‐related cognitions and pain severity and pain disability in 137 veterans seeking treatment for PTSD and AUD. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression, we found that higher levels of negative trauma‐related cognitions (e.g., “I am completely incompetent”) were associated with a higher level of pain severity, after controlling for PTSD symptom severity and frequency of alcohol use, totalR2 = .07, ΔR2 = .06. Additionally, as hypothesized, we found that higher levels of negative trauma ‐related cognitions were associated with higher levels of pain disability, after controlling for PTSD symptom severity, frequency of alcohol use, and pain severity, totalR2 = .46, ΔR2 = .03. Given that negative trauma ‐related cognitions contributed to pain severity and pain disability, even when controlling for PTSD severity and frequency of alcohol use, future studies should explore the potential impact of...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research