Substance-Use as a Means to Self-Medicate: Exploring Predictors of Substance-Use in a Sample of Traumatized Refugees

Abstract

Every year, the number of traumatized refugees migrating to the Netherlands increases, and many of these refugees are at risk to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is a growing importance to understand their complex symptomatology. This cross-sectional study aims to explore two main research questions: first, to what extent do PTSD symptoms predict substance-use, and second, to what extent do anxiety and depression symptoms predict substance-use. Additionally, a third research question tested whether trauma load predicts PTSD symptoms. The sample was composed of highly traumatized refugees. PTSD was measured with the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Substance-use was measured using the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Questionnaire (COPE). Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL). A step-wise multiple regression analysis was employed to explore PTSD as a predictor of substance-use, and anxiety and depression as moderators of this relationship. PTSD and anxiety symptoms were found to positively predict substance-use, and depression symptoms negatively predicted substance-use. Anxiety was a significant negative moderator of the relationship between PTSD and substance-use. Although the regression models were significant, they explained a small proportion of overall variance in substance-use scores. It appears that there are other variables that can explain a more substantial proportion of variance in substance-use, and future research should focus on identifying these variables.