Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Risky Behaviors: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
Abstract
Individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at risk for impulsive behaviors. Forty-three male post-9/11-era veterans, who reported PTSD symptoms and a high-risk sexual event in the past 28 days at baseline, completed three assessments daily on a mobile device for 28 days. At each assessment, participants completed assessments of PTSD symptoms, alcohol consumption and sexual behaviors. Using generalized estimating equations, and separating between- and within-subject associations, there was evidence that when participants reported more PTSD symptoms than their subject-specific average they reported more drinking in the past two hours, and more risky sexual behaviors since the previous assessment. PTSD symptoms were not significantly associated with risky behaviors reported at the subsequent assessment, and risky behaviors were not significantly associated with PTSD symptoms reported at the subsequent assessment. In sum, PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with risky behaviors assessed contemporaneously or near-contemporaneously, but not prospectively.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 11, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1182718
Entities
People
- Amanda Lane
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences