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Relationships Among PTSD, Trait Mindfulness, and Factors of SUD in Veterans Enrolled in Specialty SUD Treatment.

Kristoffer L Rehder, Benjamin J. Morasco, Sarah Bowen

Substance use & addiction journal July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1177/29767342251313862 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed
Sample size 159
Population Veterans enrolled in a VA specialty substance use disorder treatment program
Topics Meditation PTSD
Keywords Sud Veterans
Citations 1
Key findings Mindfulness facets observe and non-judging were positively associated with worse SUD-related factors (frequency of alcohol use and hazardous alcohol use, respectively), while non-reactivity was negatively associated with consequences from substance use.

Abstract

A growing body of evidence points to a role for mindfulness in the development or maintenance of co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). However, the mechanisms of this relationship remain unclear in the veteran population. This study seeks to understand how PTSD and facets of mindfulness are associated with factors of SUD in veterans enrolled in a VA specialty SUD treatment program. Veterans enrolled in the SUD treatment program were recruited from group classes and waiting rooms, and completed measures assessing SUD-related factors of frequency of alcohol use, hazardous alcohol use, consequences from substance use, and craving, as well as PTSD symptoms, mindfulness facets, and depressive symptoms. Three hierarchical multiple regressions assessed the extent to which significant relationships between mindfulness and SUD-related factors exist beyond associations commonly found with PTSD, depression, and craving. Participants (n = 159) were predominately male (91.2%) and White (86.2%) (age: Mean = 57.3; SD = 12.9). After controlling for demographic factors, PTSD, and clinical variables, mindfulness facets were associated with SUD-related factors; observe was positively related to frequency of alcohol use, non-judging was positively related to hazardous alcohol use, and non-reactivity was negatively associated with consequences from use. Exploratory analyses suggested that non-reactivity mediated the relationship between PTSD and consequences from use. Facets of observe, non-judging, and non-reactivity may help explain relationships between PTSD and SUD-related factors. However, associations with non-judging and observe were in the opposite direction hypothesized. More research is needed to understand positive associations between mindfulness and factors of SUD in veteran samples.

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on PTSD, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
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Coping motives mediate the relationship between PTSD and MDMA use in adolescents with substance use disorders German adolescent SUD patients aged 13–18 years at an outpatient clinic 2022 Cross-sectional study n = 111
Risk factors of sleep paralysis in a population of Polish students. Polish university students under 35 2022 Cross-sectional survey n = 2,553
Expert opinions on implementation of MDMA-assisted therapy in Europe: critical appraisal towards training, clinical practice, and regulation. Researchers and clinicians involved in MDMA-AT clinical trials and contributors to the... 2024 Survey n = 68

Citations in the library

Cites 5

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Meditation PTSD Addiction Depression