A Trauma Model of Substance Use: Elaboration and Preliminary Validation

Original research
by
Schimmenti, Adriano et al

Release Date

2022

Geography

Italy

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

The current study expands on and integrates previous theoretical models concerning the pathways that link child maltreatment to substance use disorder.

Findings/Key points

The proposed model, based on the self-medication hypothesis, suggests that experiences of neglect and abuse during childhood can lead to substance use and abuse both directly and indirectly, via dissociation resulting from failed attempts to integrate experiences of maltreatment in childhood. Although no single pathway can fully explain the origins of substance abuse, the current study provides evidence of a critical developmental pathway to it, with implications for theory and clinical practice.

Design/methods

The model was tested on ten substances via structural equation modeling (SEM) in a sample comprising 1040 community-dwelling adults aged between 18 and 78.

Keywords

About PWUD
Mental health
Illegal drugs