Self-medication theory (SMT) posits that individuals exposed to trauma and resulting posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSD) are at risk for heavy drinking and associated negative consequences. Estimates of PTSD among college students are comparable to rates in the general adult population, and recent research has linked PTSD and negative alcohol-related consequences in college individuals. The social environment (e. g., perceived peer norms, active peer influences) is a critical predictor of alcohol involvement in college. Research also shows that emotionally supportive peers are critical to the diminution and resolution of PTSD symptoms. As such, drinking behaviors of supportive peers may have an effect on drinking outcomes for students struggling with posttraumatic distress. The present project aimed to assess the dynamic relationship between PTSD, alcohol behavior, and the influence of emotionally supportive peers at the daily level. Specifically, the study investigated: (1) whether higher daily levels of PTSD symptoms were associated with increased within-subject levels of daily alcohol use and consequences; (2) whether daily PTSD symptom expression and alcohol behavior was moderated by the typical drinking patterns in one0́9s emotional support group; and (3) whether the relationship between daily PTSD symptoms and daily alcohol behavior was moderated by the daily drinking behavior of emotionally support peers. In addition, multilevel modeling (MLM) analyses were used to test the relationship between weekly PTSD symptom severity and weekend alcohol behavior to delineate temporal associations posited by SMT. Exploratory MLM analyses also assessed how participants0́9 other friends/acquaintances moderated the daily and week to weekend PTSD-alcohol relationship. Trauma-exposed heavy drinking college students (N=128) completed a baseline assessment and subsequent 30 days of daily web-based surveys assessing alcohol use and related consequences, PTSD symptoms, emotionally supportive and other friend/acquaintance alcohol behavior. Results directly testing SMT were not supported. However, both supportive peer and other friend/acquaintance alcohol behavior moderated the relationship between daily PTSD and daily alcohol behavior, as well as weekday PTSD and weekend alcohol behavior. Overall, supportive peer drinking behaviors were not as harmful to those experiencing more daily/weekly PTSD symptoms relative to other friends/acquaintances' alcohol behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of social support as a buffer against problematic drinking and provide useful information for interventions aimed at high-risk drinkers.

The first systematic analysis of the rates, risk factors, consequences and global burden of trauma and PTSD across the globe.

The amygdala is a central component of the limbic system, which is known to play a critical role in emotional processing of learning and memory. Over these last 20 years, major advances in techniques for examining brain activity greatly helped the scientific community to determine the nature of the contribution of the amygdala to these fundamental aspects of cognition. Combined with new conceptual breakthroughs, research data obtained in animals and humans have also provided major insights into our understanding of the processes by which amygdala dysfunction contributes to various brain disorders, such as autism or Alzheimer's disease. Although the primary goal of this book is to inform experts and newcomers of some of the latest data in the field of brain structures involved in the mechanisms underlying emotional learning and memory, we hope it will also help stimulate discussion on the functional role of the amygdala and connected brain structures in these mechanisms.

Posttraumatic Stress and Substance Use Disorders summarizes the state of the field from a biopsychosocial perspective, addressing key domains of interest to clinicians, students, instructors, and researchers. This book is a valuable resource and reference guide for multidisciplinary practitioners and scientists interested in the evidence-based assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders. Chapters written by leaders in the field cover the latest research on assessment, diagnosis, evidence-based treatments, future directions, and much more.

Current research and clinical observations suggest pronounced gender-based differences in the ways people respond to traumatic events. Most notably, women evidence twice the rate of PTSD as men following traumatic exposure. This important volume brings together leading clinical scientists to analyze the current state of knowledge on gender and PTSD. Cogent findings are presented on gender-based differences and influences in such areas as trauma exposure, risk factors, cognitive and physiological processes, comorbidity, and treatment response. Going beyond simply cataloging gender-related data, the book explores how the research can guide us in developing more effective clinical services for both women and men. Incorporating cognitive, biological, physiological, and sociocultural perspectives, this is an essential sourcebook and text.

Choice, Behavioural Economics and Addiction is about the theory, data, and applied implications of choice-based models of substance use and addiction. The distinction between substance use and addiction is important, because many individuals use substances but are not also addicted to them. The behavioural economic perspective has made contributions to the analysis of both of these phenomena and, while the major focus of the book is on theories of addiction, it is necessary also to consider the behavioural economic account of substance use in order to place the theories in their proper context and provide full coverage of the contribution of behavioural economics to this field of study. The book discusses the four major theories of addiction that have been developed in the area of economic science/behavioural economics. They are: . hyperbolic discounting . melioration . relative addiction . rational addiction The main objective of the book is to popularise these ideas among addiction researchers, academics and practitioners. The specific aims are to articulate the shared and distinctive elements of these four theories, to present and discuss the latest empirical work on substance abuse and addiction that is being conducted in this area, and to articulate a range of applied implications of this body of work for clinical, public health and public policy initiatives. The book is based on an invitation-only conference entitled, Choice, Behavioural Economics and Addiction: Theory, Evidence and Applications held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, March 30 - April 1, 2001. The conference was attended by prominent scientists and scholars, representing a range of disciplines concerned with theories of addiction and their consequences for policy and practice. The papers in the book are based on the papers given at the above conference, together with commentaries by distinguished experts and, in many cases, replies to these comments by the presenters.

Trauma and Substance Abuse explores the underrecognized connection between trauma, substance use, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients with trauma related distress such as PTSD often have comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs). This book presents cutting-edge research on how often the two disorders co-occur and why. Authors describe models of comorbidity and explore how specific PTSD and substance use symptoms are functionally related to each other. In addition, they suggest assessment approaches and practice guidelines to facilitate proper diagnosis and treatment. Particularly valuable are descriptions of several new treatment approaches that have been developed specifically for PTSD-SUD, including cognitive-behavioral and exposure therapy. This is the first book to evaluate and synthesize the two fields of PTSD and substance use disorder research and treatment. This volume is indispensable for researchers and clinicians seeking a full understanding of the etiology, assessment, and treatment of this challenging dual diagnosis.