Direct and indirect associations between perception of childhood trauma and suicidal ideation through emotion dysregulation in males who use heroin

Abstract

Emotion dysregulation is considered as one of the factors related to suicide in individuals with childhood trauma (CT). However, no research has been performed on the role of emotion dysregulation in the relationship between perception of CT and suicidal ideation in individuals who use heroin. This study aimed to evaluate direct and indirect relationships between perception of CT and suicidal ideation through emotion regulation difficulties (ERD) and cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERSs) in males with a DSM diagnosis of heroin dependence. In a cross-sectional design, 310 males with a DSM diagnosis of heroin dependence completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short version (CERQ-Short), the Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale-Form Heroin (OCDUS-Form Heroin), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). The results revealed that perception of CT had no direct relation to suicidal ideation. Perception of CT was indirectly associated with suicidal ideation through some ERD dimensions [e.g., non-acceptance of emotional responses (Non-acceptance), limited access to emotion regulation strategies (Strategies), lack of emotional awareness (Awareness)] and the CERS of positive reappraisal. The findings suggest that high suicidal ideation may stem from a perception of CT and subsequently emotion dysregulation in individuals who use heroin. Also, the findings of this research may have implications for the prevention and treatment of suicidal ideation in individuals using heroin with a perception of CT. The results of the present study require further examination through longitudinal studies.