The Effect of Cognitive-Affective Factors on PTSD and Alcohol Use Symptoms: An Investigation on Rumination, Suppression, and Reappraisal

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are mental health conditions that often co-occur. The complexity of this comorbidity is well-documented, though the role of malleable cognitive-affective factors in PTSD/AUD warrants further study. Specifically, attaining a more comprehensive understanding of the role of malleable cognitive-affective factors in individuals with symptoms of PTSD/AUD may have important implications for future research, such as in treatment-seeking individuals. Extant examinations of cognitive-affective factors have demonstrated unique associations of cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and rumination in PTSD symptom severity, though these effects had yet to be explored in subgroups of comorbid PTSD/AUD. Methods: In a sample of trauma-exposed individuals (n = 334) recruited to participate through an internet labor market, we first empirically examined latent subgroups of PTSD/AUD symptoms using latent profile analysis, then included expressive suppression, cognitive reappraisal, and four dimensions in the model to elucidate their role in specific profile patterns of PTSD/AUD symptom typologies. Results: Our results support a four-class model of PTSD/AUD symptoms, with unique predictive effects of expressive suppression, problem-focused thoughts, repetitive thoughts, and anticipatory thoughts on latent profile status. Conclusions: These findings may have important implications for future research focused on examining cognitive-affective patterns as they apply to intervention techniques in treatment-seeking individuals with symptoms of PTSD/AUD.