Anxiety Sensitivity Moderates the Relationship Between PTSD Symptoms and Alcohol Consumption Frequency

Conditioned Physiological Reactivity and PTSD Symptoms Across the Menstrual Cycle: Anxiety Sensitivity as a Moderator

10.31234/osf.io/nx3dk ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph Carpenter ◽

Laura Bragdon ◽

Suzanne L. Pineles

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Fear Conditioning ◽

Anxiety Sensitivity ◽

Conditioned Fear ◽

Gonadal Hormones ◽

Fear Learning ◽

Physiological Reactivity ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Objective: PTSD is often associated with heightened physiological reactivity during fear conditioning procedures, but results vary across studies. The present study examined whether anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of arousal-related sensations, strengthens the relationship between PTSD symptoms and skin conductance responses (SCR) during fear conditioning and extinction. Because gonadal hormones implicated in fear learning processes fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, the stability of these relationships in women was examined in two distinct menstrual cycle phases. Method: Thirty-two trauma-exposed women with (n=16) and without PTSD (n=16) completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory, and a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm during the mid-luteal (mLP) and early-follicular (eFP) menstrual cycle phases. Results: In the mLP, stronger SCR to stimuli paired with shock (CS+) during fear acquisition significantly predicted greater PTSD symptoms only when AS was high and after removing an outlier. This appeared driven by effects on Numbing and Hyperarousal symptom clusters. Other hypothesized interactions between AS and CS responses were not significant. However, in the eFP, differential SCR between the CS+ and CS- during extinction predicted significantly greater PTSD symptoms, and there was a trend for this effect being stronger as AS increased. Conclusions: Results offer preliminary evidence that high AS contributes to a stronger relationship between physiological responses during fear acquisition and PTSD symptoms, at least among women in the mLP. Further research investigating the impact of individual differences in traits such as AS on the relationship between conditioned fear responses and PTSD symptoms is warranted.

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The relationship between gender and PTSD symptoms: Anxiety sensitivity as a mechanism

Personality and Individual Differences ◽

10.1016/j.paid.2015.11.014 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 90 ◽

pp. 210-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Aaron M. Norr ◽

Brian J. Albanese ◽

Joseph W. Boffa ◽

Nicole A. Short ◽

Norman B. Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Sensitivity ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Relationship

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The interplay between cognitive ability, alcohol consumption, and health characteristics

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291717003543 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (12) ◽

pp. 2011-2022 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Degerud ◽

E. Ystrom ◽

K. Tambs ◽

I. Ariansen ◽

J. Mørland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Cognitive Ability ◽

Mental Distress ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Full Sample ◽

Current Smoking ◽

Consumption Frequency ◽

Total Alcohol ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship

AbstractBackgroundHigher cognitive ability is associated with favourable health characteristics. The relation between ability and alcohol consumption, and their interplay with other health characteristics, is unclear. We aimed to assess the relationship between cognitive ability and alcohol consumption and to assess whether alcohol consumption relates differently to health characteristics across strata of ability.MethodsFor 63 120 Norwegian males, data on cognitive ability in early adulthood were linked to midlife data on alcohol consumption frequency (times per month, 0–30) and other health characteristics, including cardiovascular risk factors and mental distress. Relations were assessed using linear regression and reported as unstandardised beta coefficients [95% confidence interval (CI)].ResultsThe mean ± s.d. frequency of total alcohol consumption in the sample was 4.0 ± 3.8 times per month. In the low, medium, and high group of ability, the frequencies were 3.0 ± 3.3, 3.7 ± 3.5, and 4.7 ± 4.1, respectively. In the full sample, alcohol consumption was associated with physical activity, heart rate, fat mass, smoking, and mental distress. Most notably, each additional day of consumption was associated with a 0.54% (0.44–0.64) and 0.14% (0.09–0.18) increase in the probability of current smoking and mental distress, respectively. In each strata of ability (low, medium, high), estimates were 0.87% (0.57–1.17), 0.48% (0.31–0.66) and 0.49% (0.36–0.62) for current smoking, and 0.44% (0.28–0.60), 0.10% (0.02–0.18), and 0.09% (0.03–0.15) for mental distress, respectively.ConclusionsParticipants with low cognitive ability drink less frequently, but in this group, more frequent alcohol consumption is more strongly associated with adverse health characteristics.

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Sleep Quality Moderates the Relationship between Anxiety Sensitivity and PTSD Symptoms in Combat-exposed Veterans

Behavioral Sleep Medicine ◽

10.1080/15402002.2020.1726749 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Sage McNett ◽

Mackenzie J. Lind ◽

Ruth C. Brown ◽

Sage Hawn ◽

Erin C. Berenz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Anxiety Sensitivity ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Relationship

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Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence Predict Suicide Ideation Among Alaskan Undergraduates

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000373 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 232-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Christopher R. DeCou ◽

Monica C. Skewes

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Dependence ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Future Research ◽

Causal Mechanism ◽

Students At Risk ◽

The Relationship ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

Abstract. Background: Previous research has demonstrated an association between alcohol-related problems and suicidal ideation (SI). Aims: The present study evaluated, simultaneously, alcohol consequences and symptoms of alcohol dependence as predictors of SI after adjusting for depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption. Method: A sample of 298 Alaskan undergraduates completed survey measures, including the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire, the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory – II. The association between alcohol problems and SI status was evaluated using sequential logistic regression. Results: Symptoms of alcohol dependence (OR = 1.88, p < .05), but not alcohol-related consequences (OR = 1.01, p = .95), emerged as an independent predictor of SI status above and beyond depressive symptoms (OR = 2.39, p < .001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.08, p = .39). Conclusion: Alcohol dependence symptoms represented a unique risk for SI relative to alcohol-related consequences and alcohol consumption. Future research should examine the causal mechanism behind the relationship between alcohol dependence and suicidality among university students. Assessing the presence of dependence symptoms may improve the accuracy of identifying students at risk of SI.

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Social Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nicole L. Hofman ◽

Austin M. Hahn ◽

Christine K. Tirabassi ◽

Raluca M. Gaher

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Events ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an integral role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD. The current study is the first to investigate the role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. These findings have important treatment and prevention implications with regard to PTSD.

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