PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity among firefighters: Associations with alcohol use

Brooke A Bartlett; Lia J Smith; Antoine Lebeaut; Jana K Tran; Anka A Vujanovic

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.06.039

PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity among firefighters: Associations with alcohol use

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Aug:278:315-323. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.06.039. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Authors

Brooke A Bartlett¹, Lia J Smith², Antoine Lebeaut³, Jana K Tran⁴, Anka A Vujanovic⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Trauma and Stress Studies Center, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5502, United States. Electronic address: babartlett2@uh.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Trauma and Stress Studies Center, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5502, United States. Electronic address: ljsmith6@central.uh.edu.
³ Department of Psychology, Trauma and Stress Studies Center, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5502, United States. Electronic address: amlebeau@central.uh.edu.
⁴ Houston Fire Department, 1801 Smith Street, 7th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, United States. Electronic address: drjanatran@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Trauma and Stress Studies Center, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5502, United States. Electronic address: aavujano@central.uh.edu.

PMID: 31276966
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.06.039

Abstract

Firefighters represent a unique population at high risk for trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use. This study explored the main and interactive effects of PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity with regard to alcohol use severity. We hypothesized that higher levels of PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity would be related to greater alcohol use severity. Covariates included trauma load, depressive symptom severity, and romantic relationship status. The sample was comprised of 654 firefighters (Mage = 38.65, SD = 8.60) who endorsed exposure to potentially traumatic events and lifetime alcohol use. Firefighters completed an online questionnaire battery. A series of hierarchical regressions was conducted. PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity were significantly, incrementally associated with alcohol use severity, and a significant interactive effect was documented; firefighters with heightened PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity had the highest levels of alcohol use severity. This line of inquiry has great potential to inform prevention and intervention efforts for this vulnerable population. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Keywords: Binge drinking; First responders; Impulsivity; Posttraumatic stress; Trauma.

MeSH terms

Adult
Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
Depression / psychology
Female
Firefighters / psychology*
Humans
Impulsive Behavior*
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases / psychology*
Severity of Illness Index
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires