Emotional Regulation in People With Co-occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorder

Completed

• Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Emotional Regulation; Substance Use Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT05531318
• Lead Sponsor: King's College London

Brief Summary

The aim of this project is to look at emotional regulation in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). This study will explore how people with PTSD-SUD regulate their emotions and how this might explain the relationship between these two disorders. In turn, this may inform effective treatment strategies for people with comorbid PTSD-SUD.

Emotional regulation refers to the way in which people process and respond to their emotions. PTSD and SUD commonly cooccur and this is associated with adverse outcomes including high rates of relapse, overdose, and suicide. We therefore need effective treatments to address this clinical concern. Evidence suggests emotional regulation might be important in the development and maintenance of PTSD and SUD and therefore it might be a useful target for treatment. However, most research in this area has been quantitative and has not considered how gender, social circumstances and trauma or substance type might affect the way people regulate their emotions. This study will recruit 40 adults with trauma histories and PTSD who are currently receiving treatment in a community drug and alcohol service for their substance use. Participants will be interviewed to explore how they regulate their emotions and how this relates to their social circumstances. This study will also explore whether gender, substance or trauma type affect the way people regulate their emotions. We hope this will help to improve treatment for people with PTSD and SUD.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-09-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-09-06
• Study First Posted: 2022-09-07
• Study Start: 2023-06-07
• Status Verified: 2024-03
• Primary Completion: 2024-07-09
• Study Completion: 2024-07-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 28

Inclusion Criteria

• • Adults aged 18+

  • Receiving treatment from a community substance use service at the time of the study.
  • Experienced, witnessed or been confronted with at least one traumatic event (according to PTSD Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5) (PDS-5) (Foa, 2016).
  • Participant endorses at least 3 PTSD symptoms from criterion B-E, measured using the PDS-5.
  • Able to communicate and understand English sufficiently to engage in a qualitative interview.

Exclusion Criteria

• • Staff recommend the individual should not take part in the study

  • The individual is unable to provide informed consent

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Qualitative interview accounts	November 2022 - October 2024	Semi-structured interviews will be used

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Addiction Centre; 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom