Browsing by Author "Thomas, Suzanne"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Associations among Impulsivity, Trauma History, and Alcohol Misuse within a Young Adult Sample
    (Elsevier, 2017) Bountress, Kaitlin E.; Adams, Zachary W.; Gilmore, Amanda K.; Amstadter, Ananda B.; Thomas, Suzanne; Danielson, Carla Kmett; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Objective: Young adult alcohol misuse is associated with numerous long-term adverse outcomes. Given the link between impulsivity and alcohol use, we examined whether three impulsivity-related traits differentially predicted number of drinks per drinking day (DDD). We also examined whether these effects varied for those with different trauma histories. Method: The current study (n=254) examined motor, non-planning, and attentional impulsivity as predictors of DDD. It also examined whether impulsivity was differentially predictive of DDD across individuals in: a control group (non-trauma exposed), a trauma exposed but non-PTSD group, and a PTSD group. Results: Regardless of group, more motor impulsivity was associated with more DDD. The effect of non-planning impulsivity varied according to trauma history. Specifically, more non-planning impulsivity predicted more DDD for those without PTSD. Finally, attentional impulsivity was not predictive of DDD. Conclusions: Young adults with high levels of motor impulsivity, regardless of trauma history, may be a particularly high-risk group in terms of propensity for alcohol use/misuse. Additionally, high levels of non-planning impulsivity may signify those at greater risk for alcohol misuse, among those without PTSD. Motor impulsivity and non-planning impulsivity may serve as useful intervention targets in alcohol misuse prevention efforts. Implications for future research in this area are discussed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Associations of subjective and objective stress responses with interpersonal trauma, PTSD, stress-induced drinking, and drinking to cope in young adults
    (American Psychological Association, 2021) Danielson, Carla Kmett; Hahn, Austin M.; Bountress, Kaitlin E.; Adams, Zachary W.; Calhoun, Casey; Amstadter, Ananda B.; Thomas, Suzanne; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Objective: To understand how interpersonal trauma (IPT), stress response, and drinking to cope converge to predict stress-induced drinking, a risk factor for alcohol use disorder. Method: Young adults with no substance use disorder were classified into three trauma history groups: (a) IPT with PTSD (n = 27), (b) IPT without PTSD (n = 35), and (c) Control (no trauma-history/no PTSD; n = 36). Participants completed a baseline assessment, including a structured clinical interview, to confirm PTSD diagnosis, followed by the Trier Social Stressor Task (TSST) and an alcohol use task. Subjective units of distress and blood serum cortisol were collected at standardized timepoints throughout the tasks. Results: In all three groups (PTSD, IPT, control), males consumed more alcohol in the lab than females. Participants in the PTSD group had significantly higher drinking to cope motives, which were associated with greater subjective reactivity; however, neither drinking to cope motives nor subjective reactivity to the TSST predicted post-stressor alcohol consumption for those with PTSD. Conclusions: The interplay among trauma history, stress, and drinking among young adults is nuanced; additional lab-based studies are needed to further clarify the nuanced connection between trauma history, acute stress reactions, and alcohol use.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impulsivity and Comorbid PTSD-Binge Drinking
    (Taylor & Francis, 2018) Walker, Jesse; Bountress, Kaitlin E.; Calhoun, Casey D.; Metzger, Isha W.; Adams, Zachary; Amstadter, Ananda; Thomas, Suzanne; Danielson, Carla Kmett; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Objective: Trauma exposure is common, with estimates of 28% to 90% of adults reporting at least one traumatic event over their lifetime. Those exposed to traumatic events are at risk for alcohol misuse (i.e., binge drinking), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or both. A potential underlying mechanism for this comorbidity is increased impulsivity-the tendency to act rashly. Little work to date has examined the impact of different impulsogenic traits on this comorbidity. Methods: This study (n = 162) investigated trauma-exposed young adults (aged 21-30) who had endorsed a lifetime interpersonal trauma. In addition, three impulsogenic traits (motor, nonplanning, and attentional) were measured. Results: Over and above the covariates for age, gender, race, and traumatic events, greater attentional impulsivity was associated with greater likelihood of meeting criteria for PTSD and binge drinking, compared to meeting criteria for PTSD, binge drinking, or neither. Neither nonplanning impulsivity nor motor impulsivity exerted unique effects. Conclusions: Young adults who report difficulty attending to immediate stimuli within their environment may be unable to think about and/or process the traumatic event, potentially increasing risk for PTSD and maladaptive coping skills to manage this distress (e.g., alcohol misuse, binge drinking).