Emotion Dysregulation Linked to Severity and Frequency of Substance Use

Emotion dysregulation has been established to be of immense importance in the process of onset and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Which is inclusive of substance use disorders. Results indicate there exists an association between emotional dysregulation and that of the frequency and severity of substance use. The result is further suggestive of the fact that there exist difficulties in controlling impulsive behaviors that might potentially emerge as a useful treatment target for individuals who are substance dependent.

Researchers have established that emotion dysregulation plays an immense role in the onset and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Which is inclusive of substance use disorders. Therefore, it is important to know how difficulties in emotion regulation vary across levels of substance use. It remains unclear whether accompanying psychiatric disorders influence these relationships.

A study conducted by psychologists at the University of South Dakota tried to recognize difficulties that might occur in emotion regulation through the spectrum of substance use. Also, to find out the influence of associated psychiatric symptoms.

Exploring Emotion Dysregulation in Substance Use Severity and Impulsivity

To achieve this, researchers measured self-reported emotion regulation difficulties, substance use, and other psychiatric symptoms in a community sample of 843 individuals and 415 people from two inpatient clinics suffering from substance use disorder. They analyzed the data and merged it using regression models and correlations.

Emotion dysregulation varied across substance use levels, showing a significant association with both the severity and frequency of use. High substance use severity and frequency correlated significantly with higher scores on the emotion dysregulation facet related to controlling impulsive behaviors.

Psychiatric symptoms did not significantly influence the connection between substance use and emotional dysregulation. In conclusion, results indicate a clear association between emotional dysregulation and the frequency and severity of substance use. The findings suggest that controlling impulsive behaviors could be a valuable treatment target for individuals with substance dependence.

.