Stress Exposure and PTSD in a Cross-Sectional Residential Substance Use Treatment Sample.

BACKGROUND: Aim 1 of this cross-sectional, observational study with people in residential treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) was to document stress exposure. Aim 2 was to assess potential sociodemographic and health differences based on probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) status. Aim 3 was to assess relative contributions of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-congruent versus DSM-incongruent stressors (Criterion A vs non-Criterion A) to mental and physical health. We hypothesized that both types of stressors would significantly contribute to impairment across indicators and that DSM-congruent stressor exposure would be more strongly associated with impairment than DSM-incongruent exposure.

METHODS: We assessed exposure to DSM-congruent traumatic stressors and DSM-incongruent life stressors, PTSD and depressive symptoms, emotion regulation difficulties, substance use recovery capital, and physical/mental health-related quality of life among 136 people in residential SUD treatment who were 64% men, 36% women; 49% white, 41% Black, 11% multiracial/another race; 18% lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB+); mean age = 39.82 (standard deviation = 12.24) years.

RESULTS: Participants reported experiencing a mean of 9.76 (SD = 6.11) DSM-congruent events. Those with probable PTSD were younger and more likely to be LGB+ than those without probable PTSD ( P  < .05). Experiencing higher numbers of DSM-congruent events was associated with more severe PTSD and depressive symptoms, emotion regulation difficulties, and lower physical health-related quality of life ( P  < .05). DSM-incongruent stressor exposure was not independently associated with any indicators. Recovery capital was not associated with either type of stress exposure.

CONCLUSIONS: Stressful event exposure among people in residential SUD treatment is very high. Those who are younger or LGB+ in residential SUD treatment may be at greater risk of developing PTSD. DSM-congruent stressors are more consistently associated with mental health indicators than are DSM-incongruent stressors. Prioritizing treatment targets and identifying implementable treatment strategies can be challenging with this complex population.