Introduction

Functional models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) underscore the role of internally-driven negative reinforcement. However, with the focus of these models being on negative emotions broadly, there is limited understanding of the effect of alcohol use to down-regulate specific forms of negative emotions or positive emotions generally. Among populations characterized by PTSD, there is growing evidence that positive emotions may elicit aversive reactions and thus be intentionally reduced, including via alcohol use. Objective: The current study examined the associations among PTSD symptom severity, alcohol use to down-regulate both negative (i.e., despondency and anger) and positive emotions, and alcohol misuse. Method: Data were collected from 320 trauma-exposed, substance-using individuals in the community (M age = 35.78, 46.9% women). Results: Individuals with greater PTSD symptom severity reported significantly higher alcohol use to down-regulate despondency, anger, and positive emotions, which, in turn, were linked to greater alcohol misuse. Conclusions: Alcohol use may serve to down-regulate both negative (i.e., despondency and anger) and positive emotions, and these functions may help to explain the association of PTSD symptom severity to alcohol misuse. PTSD-AUD models may benefit from specifying a negatively reinforcing function of alcohol use in the context of positive emotions.

中文翻译：

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酒精下调消极和积极情绪：扩展我们对酒精与创伤后应激障碍相关功能作用的理解

介绍

创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 和酒精使用障碍 (AUD) 的功能模型强调了内部驱动的负强化的作用。然而，由于这些模型的重点是广泛的负面情绪，人们对饮酒对下调特定形式的负面情绪或积极情绪的影响的理解有限。在以 PTSD 为特征的人群中，越来越多的证据表明，积极情绪可能会引起厌恶反应，从而被故意减少，包括通过饮酒。目的：目前的研究检查了 PTSD 症状严重程度、饮酒以下调消极情绪（即沮丧和愤怒）和积极情绪以及酒精滥用之间的关联。方法：数据来自社区中 320 名受过创伤、使用药物的个人（M年龄 = 35.78，女性占 46.9%）。结果：PTSD 症状严重程度较高的个体报告说，饮酒量显着增加，以降低沮丧、愤怒和积极情绪，而这反过来又与更多的酒精滥用有关。结论：酒精使用可能会下调消极情绪（即沮丧和愤怒）和积极情绪，这些功能可能有助于解释 PTSD 症状严重程度与酒精滥用之间的关联。PTSD-AUD 模型可能会受益于在积极情绪的背景下指定酒精使用的负面增强功能。