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Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern among young adults and has shown a consistent association with alcohol use. However, previous research has used cross‐sectional and daily diary designs that may fail to pinpoint the effects of alcohol use within several hours of IPV occurring. The present study used novel ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to investigate the bidirectional effect of alcohol use and IPV victimization among young adults with a history of IPV perpetration. Methods: One hundred and sixty‐eight young adults (age 18–25 years) in a dating relationship who reported IPV perpetration in the past year completed 28 days of randomly prompted EMA surveys (four surveys daily). The effect of alcohol use on IPV victimization and the effect of IPV victimization on alcohol use were examined. Results: The results indicated that alcohol use co‐occurs with psychological and physical IPV victimization. Further, alcohol use significantly increased the odds of physical (OR = 4.94; 95% CI = 2.24–10.87) and sexual (OR = 4.66; 95% CI = 1.64–13.22) IPV victimization, but not psychological IPV victimization, in the subsequent EMA survey. Finally, IPV victimization did not significantly increase the odds of reporting alcohol use in the subsequent EMA survey. Conclusions: Using alcohol is proximally related to IPV victimization among those with a history of IPV perpetration. Intervention efforts would benefit from adapting EMA methods to provide resources the moment they are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the prevalence and negative outcomes associated with simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (i.e., marijuana [SAM] use, i.e., so that the effects of both alcohol and cannabis overlap) among college students, there is no comprehensive measure of SAM use, with past research relying on single items. The present study aimed to develop the Alcohol and Cannabis Simultaneous Use Scale (ACSUS), a comprehensive self-report measure of SAM use frequency, quantity, and problems in college students. College students at two Midwestern universities who used alcohol and cannabis (Study 1: N = 534; Mean age = 19; 71% female; 88% White; Study 2: N = 258; Mean age = 21; 81% female; 85% White) completed the newly developed ACSUS. Exploratory factor analysis (Study 1) revealed that the ACSUS fits best with 9-items representing two factors: Factor 1 measures frequency and quantity of SAM use and Factor 2 measures associated problems with SAM use. Confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2) supported the two-factor structure of the ACSUS, which was positively associated with measures of alcohol use, cannabis use, simultaneous use motives, and impulsivity. These data provide initial support for the ACSUS, developed to investigate the frequency, quantity, and associated problems with SAM use in college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College populations have an elevated risk of impaired sleep, with 60% of college students showing disturbed sleep patterns. Sleep disruption is associated with difficulty utilizing emotion regulation processes. When examined in experimental, laboratory-based paradigms and cross-sectional survey studies, sleep impairment and emotion dysregulation were associated with violence perpetration, including intimate partner violence (IPV). However, no studies have comprehensively measured IPV within a college population to examine how shared variance between sleep disruption and emotion dysregulation relates to IPV perpetration while controlling for known correlates such as alcohol use. The current study tested the hypothesis that impaired sleep is associated with emotion dysregulation and IPV. The data obtained from college students (N = 1,018) at two universities were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that the shared variance between sleep disruption and emotion dysregulation positively related to physical and psychological IPV that did not vary by gender. The site of data collection affected the strength but not the direction of relationships between sleep disruption, emotion dysregulation, and physical and psychological violence. These novel results support the interpretation that sleep disruption and emotion regulation are potential points of prevention and intervention for IPV perpetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other sexual minority (LGBQ+) young adults report similar or higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration than their heterosexual peers. Elevated IPV risk among LGBQ+ young adults may be attributable to experiencing heterosexist discrimination and internalized homophobia. In addition, LGBQ+ people report disproportionate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration in dating relationships. Thus, this study explored which combinations of IPV risk factors (i.e., experiencing heterosexist discrimination, internalized homophobia, PTSD symptoms, alcohol use) related to forms of IPV perpetration, inclusive of psychological, physical, and sexual forms, in a sample of 342 LGBQ+ young adults. Internalized homophobia was related to psychological IPV perpetration at high and medium levels of PTSD symptoms and only high levels of alcohol use. PTSD symptoms and alcohol use interacted to predict psychological IPV perpetration; and PTSD symptoms related to increased psychological IPV perpetration at high and medium, but not low, alcohol use levels. Alcohol use was positively related to physical IPV perpetration. No other risk factors or interactions were significantly related to physical or sexual IPV perpetration. Results were consistent with prior findings that linked internalized homophobia, alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms to IPV perpetration and highlight the interacting nature of these IPV perpetration risk factors. Comprehensive IPV interventions with LGBQ+ young adults should evaluate the impact of simultaneously targeting these multiple IPV risk factors considering their interacting contributions to IPV perpetration risk. More research is needed to examine the temporal relations between minority stress, PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing body of research seeking to examine adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, Institutional Review Boards must consider whether participating in violence research is emotionally distressing for SGM people. Yet, little research has studied SGM participants' reactions to participating in research on ACEs, IPV, and minority stress. Thus, the current study examined reactions, including negative emotional reactions, to participating in violence research among SGM young adults. In total, 230 participants who self-identified as a sexual minority (30.1% also identified as a gender minority) in a dating relationship completed a cross-sectional assessment on ACEs, IPV (including identity abuse victimization and perpetration), minority stress (i.e., internalized homo/bi/transphobia), and reactions to research participation. Results indicated that participants identifying as a gender minority had significantly higher negative emotional reactions to study participation compared to cisgender participants, but this increase among gender minority individuals was small. In addition, gender minority participants and those with higher minority stress (i.e., internalized trans/bi/homo-negativity) and ACEs reported significantly higher negative emotional reactions to participation. Furthermore, gender minority participants scored worse on a scale indicating appreciation for contributing to research. Finally, reporting IPV victimization and perpetration was not associated with negative emotional reactions. Findings suggest that questions assessing minority stress and negative childhood experiences may be more emotionally salient or stressful for gender minority participants compared to questions measuring IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of experiencing sexual assault is alarmingly high among Transgender and Gender Diverse people (TGD; people whose gender identities and/or expressions are not traditionally associated with their sex assigned at birth) and is associated with various mental health sequalae. Perceived social support has been shown to abate the negative outcomes of sexual assault among cisgender individuals, yet little is known about this association among TGD people, especially which provider of support (i.e., family, friends, or significant others) may be most beneficial. To that end, 191 TGD adults were recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk to examine perceived social support as a potential moderator of the association between sexual assault victimization and post-sexual assault trauma symptomology. Results showed an interaction trending toward significance between sexual assault and support from a significant other. Decomposition of this interaction demonstrated that sexual assault was associated with post-assault trauma symptoms when support from a significant other was low (ß =.25, p <.05) but not high (ß =.10, p =.089). The interaction between sexual assault and perceived social support was not significant for perceived support from friends (p =.133) or family (p =.954). Findings highlight the need for additional research on perceived social support as a potential buffering mechanism between sexual assault and post-assault symptomology in TGD people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the past several decades, dating violence has emerged as a major health problem, with rates of physical violence ranging from 20% to 30% and psychological aggression ranging from 60% to 90% in college dating relationships. Despite this, there have been few successful dating violence prevention programs developed. Thus, it is imperative that research can identify the relationship between potential protective factors, such as trait mindfulness, and dating violence perpetration. This study builds upon previous research on mindfulness and dating violence by investigating this question within a sample of female undergraduate students at two universities (N = 381) over the course of one semester. Findings suggested that the nonjudging aspect of mindfulness was associated with less perpetration of psychological and physical aggression approximately 3 months later. Furthermore, several facets of mindfulness were able to differentiate individuals who perpetrated aggression at Time 2 relative to individuals without a history of perpetration. These findings build on previous work in the field and suggest that mindfulness may play an important role in the manifestation of dating violence. Directions for future research on the relation between mindfulness and dating violence are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades witnessed a surge in pornography use, contributing to what some researchers referred to as problematic pornography use (PPU; excessive, compulsive, and uncontrollable pornography use). Informed by cognitive scripts theory, cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental research spanning several decades documented a positive association between men's pornography use and physical and sexual violence perpetration. However, there is a paucity of research investigating pornography use broadly, and PPU specifically, among men who perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV). The present cross-sectional study investigated the association between self-reported PPU and physical and sexual IPV perpetration among 273 men in batterer intervention programs. After accounting for psychiatric symptomology and substance use and problems, results revealed a positive association between PPU and both physical and sexual IPV perpetration. Findings highlighted the need for continued investigation of the function of pornography use for violent men, particularly as it relates to physical and sexual IPV perpetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scant research examined mechanisms underlying the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and dating violence (DV) perpetration. Using a cross-sectional design with 203 college women, we examined whether distress tolerance mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and DV perpetration (i.e., psychological aggression and physical assault). Path analyses results revealed indirect effects of mindfulness facets nonjudging of inner experiences and nonreactivity to inner experiences on both psychological aggression and physical assault through distress tolerance. Mindfulness facets observing, describing, and acting with awareness were not linked to DV perpetration through distress tolerance. Results suggest that women who allow internal experiences to come and go without assigning criticism or avoidance are better able to tolerate transient distress and less likely to abuse a dating partner. Future research may examine distress tolerance and dispositional mindfulness facets as potential intervention targets for women who abuse dating partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, most dating violence research has focused on physical aggression and has left stalking behaviors largely unexamined, despite evidence that stalking of an intimate partner occurs with high frequency. Moreover, the extent to which stalking victimization has the same negative mental health consequences as other forms of dating violence is unclear. Thus, using a sample of male and female undergraduate students in current dating relationships (N = 357), the association between stalking victimization and alcohol and drug use was explored. Results indicated that for both men and women, stalking victimization from a dating partner was related to alcohol and drug use, even after controlling for age, gender, length of dating relationship, and physical aggression victimization. These preliminary findings suggest that stalking victimization is associated with deleterious consequences; thus, additional research is needed to better understand the longitudinal, long-term consequences of stalking victimization. Additional implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by alcohol myopia theory and Leonard’s heuristic model of intimate partner violence (IPV), we hypothesized that alcohol problems would positively relate to IPV among men with high, but not low, trait jealousy. We collected cross-sectional, self-report data from 74 men arrested for domestic violence and court-ordered to batterer intervention programs (BIP). Alcohol problems positively related to physical and sexual IPV among men with high, but not low, trait jealousy. Results provide preliminary support for the need for BIP to target both jealousy-related cognitions and alcohol problems. Future research should investigate jealousy in relation to alcohol-related IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sought to examine whether drinking motives (i.e., coping, social, conformity, and enhancement) moderated the relationship between physical, sexual, and psychological dating violence victimization and alcohol-related problems in a sample of drinking college women (N = 177). Results demonstrated that coping and social drinking motives moderated the relationship between sexual victimization and alcohol problems; conformity, social, and enhancement drinking motives moderated the relationship between alcohol-related problems and physical victimization; no significant findings were evident for psychological aggression victimization. Our results partially support the self-medication model of alcohol use, and this may be particularly relevant to sexual victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness gained increased attention as it relates to aggressive behavior, including dating violence. However, no known studies examined how the combined influences of dispositional mindfulness and perceived partner infidelity, a well-documented correlate of dating violence, relate to women’s dating violence perpetration. Using a sample of college women (N = 203), we examined the relationship between perceived partner infidelity and physical dating violence perpetration at varying levels of dispositional mindfulness, controlling for the influence of alcohol use. Results indicated perceived partner infidelity and dating violence perpetration were positively related for women with low and mean dispositional mindfulness, but not for women with high dispositional mindfulness. These results further support the applicability of mindfulness theory in the context of dating violence. Implications of the present findings provide preliminary support for mindfulness intervention in relationships characterized by infidelity concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comorbidity between eating disorders (EDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) is of particular concern given the high rates of mortality, relapse and poor treatment outcomes associated with both disorders. As a result, there has been a growing impetus within the field to elucidate factors that might influence and aid treatment for this comorbidity. One such factor is dispositional mindfulness, as past literature has demonstrated a significant relationship between mindfulness and both EDs and SUDs. However, we are unaware of any research that has examined the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and ED symptoms in a sample of men in residential treatment for SUDs. Medical records from 152 men were included in the current study. Alcohol and drug use and problems, ED symptoms and dispositional mindfulness were assessed with self-report measures. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that dispositional mindfulness was inversely related to ED symptoms after controlling for alcohol use, drug use and age. Although results are preliminary and continued research in this area is needed, our findings suggest that there may be potential usefulness in targeting and enhancing mindfulness among patients in residential treatment for SUDs with cooccurring psychiatric symptoms (e.g., EDs). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although research has shown links between family-of-origin violence (FOV), intimate partner violence (IPV), and hostility, research has not examined whether hostility mediates the relationship between FOV and IPV. The current study examined whether hostility mediates FOV and IPV perpetration in 302 men arrested for domestic violence. Results demonstrated that hostility fully mediated the relationship between father-to-participant FOV and physical and psychological IPV, and the relationship between mother-to-participant FOV and physical IPV. Results indicated that hostility fully mediated the relationship between experiencing and witnessing FOV and physical IPV (composite FOV), and partially mediated the relationship between composite FOV and psychological aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research has consistently demonstrated high co-occurrence between substance use disorders (SUDs) and compulsive sexual behaviors (CSBs). Numerous studies have also indicated that maladaptive core beliefs and early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are prevalent among individuals with SUDs and CSBs. However, research has yet to examine the relationship between EMS and CSBs among substance-dependent populations. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine this relationship in a sample of 198 men and 62 women in residential treatment for SUDs. Findings demonstrated that the five EMS domains were positively associated with CSBs. Results further demonstrated that patients meeting the cutoff score for CSBs scored significantly higher than patients not meeting the cutoff score for CSBs on the EMS domains ofdisconnection/rejection, impaired autonomy, and impaired limit. These findings suggest that there is an important and significant relationship between EMS and CSBs among adults in substance use treatment. Results from the current study indicate that EMS may provide a potentially important focus for treatment, particularly among individuals with co-morbid CSBs and SUDs. Given the preliminary nature of this study, continued research is needed to replicate and extend the findings from the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) co-occurs with substance use disorders (SUDs) at an alarmingly high rate, and the presence of anxiety is associated with an increased risk for relapse to substance use following treatment. Furthermore, comorbid SUDs and other forms of psychopathology are associated with an increased risk for leaving treatment against medical advice (AMA). Objective and Method: Research has yet to examine whether the presence of GAD symptoms is associated with leaving treatment AMA in SUDs populations. Thus, the current study sought to address this important gap in the literature by examining this relationship among a sample of 122 women in residential treatment for SUDs. Results: Results demonstrated that GAD symptoms were significantly associated with the decision to leave treatment AMA after controlling for age, education, problematic alcohol and drug use, and depression symptoms. Conclusions/Importance: Our finding indicates the potential importance of assessing and targeting GAD in treatment for SUDs, which may increase treatment compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing impetus within the field of aggression research to further elucidate the risk factors, predictors, and correlates of dating violence (DV), particularly among dating couples. Of particular importance is understanding the proximal motivations, or reasons, for DV and whether these motivations differ for men and women. Research examining the motivations for DV has focused almost entirely on physical violence, and findings regarding gender differences in DV motivations have been mixed (Langhinrichsen-Rohling, McCullars, & Misra, 2012). To our knowledge, limited research has examined the motivations for psychological aggression among dating college students, and no research has directly compared men and women's motivations for psychological aggression. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the motivations for psychological aggression among dating college students (N = 216), and whether these motivations differed by gender. Results demonstrated that expression of negative emotions, jealousy, and communication difficulties were the most frequently endorsed motive categories for both men and women. Men and women did not differ on any motive category. Despite the preliminary nature of this study, several research and clinical implications are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological aggression between intimate partners has been found to occur at high rates in college populations, but the reliability and validity of the self-report measures used to gather this information have been criticized. Some studies indicate item order may affect self-reports of victimization and perpetration of violent behaviors. In this study, we administered standardized and randomized formats of the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse (MMEA; Murphy & Hoover, 1999) to study the impact question order had on self-reports of psychological aggression victimization and perpetration. Results demonstrated that women reported more frequent perpetration and victimization than men on some MMEA subscales. Furtherm ore, those who took the standardized format of the MMEA reported more frequent perpetration and victimization on some MMEA subscales than those who took the randomized format. However, no significant interaction effects were found between gender and format. Overall, these mixed results w arrant further research on item order effects with self-report measures of intimate partner violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To determine whether being the victim of violence during a date among female college students on any given day predicted cannabis and alcohol use the following day. Design, Setting and Participants Between August 2010 and January 2013, we conducted a 90-day daily diary study with 174 females who were in current dating relationships from a large university in the Southeastern United States. The mean age of the sample was 18.70 years [standard deviation (SD) = 1.27]; participants were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian (86.2%). Participants answered questions about contact with their dating partner, being the victim of violence (physical and sexual) during a date, physical perpetration, alcohol use and cannabis use for up to 90 days. The mean number of diaries completed was 54.90 (SD = 27.66). Measurements The primary outcomes were self-reported daily cannabis and alcohol use. Being the victim of violence during a date was assessed each day using self-report items from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales and Sexual Experiences Survey. Findings Being the victim of violence during a date predicted cannabis use the following day (odds ratio = 2.25), and this effect held when controlling for contact with a partner, cannabis and alcohol use the previous day, physical perpetration the previous day, alcohol use the same day and the overall likelihood of being the victim of violence during a date, substance use and physical perpetration. Being the victim of violence during a date did not predict next-day alcohol use. Being the victim of sexual and physical violence during a date did not differentially predict next-day substance use. Conclusions Among female college students in the United States, being the victim of violence during a date appears to increase the risk for cannabis use the following day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have examined early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and their relationship to psychological disorders, including eating disorders (EDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs). However, to date, there are no empirical investigations that have examined the relationship between EMS and EDs among individuals seeking treatment for substance use. In an attempt to further elucidate this relationship, the purpose of the current, exploratory study was to examine the relationship between EMS, ED symptomatology (i.e. bulimia and binge-eating but not anorexia) and substance use and to directly compare EMS among individuals with and without a probable ED diagnosis. Participants were 387 men and 132 women seeking residential treatment for substance use. Results demonstrated that 11 of the 18 EMS were significantly associated with ED. Moreover, patients with a probable ED scored significantly higher than patients without a probable ED on 8 of the 18 EMS. Results suggest that EMS are prevalent among individuals with ED pathology seeking treatment for substance use. Thus, treatment programs could potentially benefit from the assessment and treatment of EMS among dually diagnosed patients. Given the exploratory and preliminary nature of the study, continued research is needed to further examine the relationship between EMS, EDs and substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness has received an abundance of research attention in recent years, largely due to mindfulness-based interventions demonstrating positive mental and physical health outcomes. However, less research has examined individual’s trait levels of mindfulness and how it is related to mental health, particularly among individuals seeking substance use treatment. Therefore, in the current study, we examined the relation between trait mindfulness and early maladaptive schemas (EMS), which are dysfunctional cognitive and behavioural patterns that theoretically underlie the development of mental health problems, among women seeking residential substance use treatment. Pre-existing, adult female, patient records from a residential substance abuse treatment facility were reviewed (N = 67). Results demonstrated that higher trait mindfulness was negatively associated with 12 of the 18 EMS. Moreover, patients who endorsed multiple EMS reported lower trait mindfulness than patients who endorsed zero (or one) EMS. These findings are the first to examine the relation between trait mindfulness and EMS among women seeking substance use treatment. Findings suggest that EMS and trait mindfulness are robustly related and future research should examine whether mindfulness-based interventions reduce EMS. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Treatment dropout is common both among people in treatment for eating disorders and for substance use disorders. Because of the high rates of co-occurrence and mortality associated with these disorders, the purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship among eating disorder symptoms, length of stay, and decisions to leave against medical advice among individuals in substance use treatment. Methods: We analyzed de-identified medical record data for 122 adult women enrolled in residential treatment for substance use disorders over a 12-month period. Routine treatment intake included standardized assessments of eating disorders, depression, and substance use. Results: Participants averaged 43.1 years of age (SD = 10.7) and were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian (n = 118, 96.7%). Approximately 8 (6.6%) patients met criteria for a probable eating disorder and 79 (64.8%) for a probable alcohol use disorder. Mean length of stay was 28.1 days (SD = 6.6) and 21 (17%) patients left against medical advice. Logistic regression analysis showed that eating disorder symptoms were significantly associated with decisions to leave treatment against medical advice after controlling for age, years of education, depression symptoms, alcohol problems, and drug problems: χ2 = 14.88, df = 6, p =.02. This model accounted for 19.1% (Nagelkerke R2) of the variance in discharge type. Eating disorder symptoms were not associated with length of treatment. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the importance of assessing and monitoring eating disorder symptoms among individuals in treatment for substance use disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the men and women's motivations for intimate partner violence (IPV) who are arrested for domestic violence and court referred to batterer intervention programs, and mentions that motivations for IPV were negative emotions, communication difficulties, and self-defense.

Individuals with substance use disorders are more likely to have antisocial and borderline personality disorder than non-substance abusers. Recently, research has examined the relations between early maladaptive schemas and personality disorders, as early maladaptive schemas are believed to underlie personality disorders. However, there is a dearth of research on the relations between early maladaptive schemas and personality disorders among individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse. The current study examined the relations among early maladaptive schemas and antisocial and borderline personality within in a sample of men seeking substance abuse treatment ( n = 98). Results demonstrated that early maladaptive schema domains were associated with antisocial and borderline personality symptoms. Implications of these findings for substance use treatment and research are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Antisocial (ASPD) and Borderline (BPD) personality disorder symptoms are prevalence among individuals seeking substance abuse treatment., Early maladaptive schemas are believed to underlie the development of ASPD and BPD symptoms, and are also prevalence among individuals seeking substance use treatment., Findings from the current study suggest that specific early maladaptive schema domains predict ASPD and BPD symptoms in a substance abuse treatment seeking sample of adult males., The treatment of ASPD and BPD among men seeking substance use treatment may want to focus on early maladaptive schemas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has begun to examine the early maladaptive schemas of substance abusers, as it is believed that targeting these core beliefs in treatment may result in improved substance use outcomes. One special population that has received scant attention in the research literature, despite high levels of substance use, is airline pilots. The current study examined the early maladaptive schemas of a sample of airline pilots (n= 64) who were seeking residential treatment for alcohol dependence and whether they differed in early maladaptive schemas from non-pilot substance abusers who were also seeking residential treatment for alcohol dependence (n= 45). Pre-existing medical records from patients of a residential substance abuse treatment facility were reviewed for the current study. Of the 18 early maladaptive schemas, results demonstrated that pilots scored higher than non-pilots on the early maladaptive schema of unrelenting standards (high internalized standards of behavior), whereas non-pilots scored higher on insufficient self-control (low frustration tolerance and self-control). Early maladaptive schemas may be a relevant treatment target for substance abuse treatment seeking pilots and non-pilots. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Early maladaptive schemas, defined as cognitive and behavioural patterns of viewing oneself and the world that cause considerable distress, are increasingly being recognized as an important underlying correlate of mental health problems. Recent research has begun to examine early maladaptive schemas among individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse. Unfortunately, there is limited research on whether substance abusers score higher on early maladaptive schemas than non-clinical controls. Thus, the current study examined whether a sample of young adult female substance abuse treatment seekers ( n = 180) scored higher than a non-clinical group of female college students ( n = 284) on early maladaptive schemas. Results demonstrated that the substance abuse group scored higher than the non-clinical group on 16 of the 18 early maladaptive schemas. In addition, a number of differences in early maladaptive schemas were large in effect size. Implications of these findings for future research and substance abuse treatment programmes are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Young adult female substance users have a number of early maladaptive schemas that may be contributing to the onset and maintenance of substance use., Findings from the current study suggest that early maladaptive schemas are more prevalent among young adult female substance abusers than a non-clinical control group, even after controlling for demographic differences between groups., The treatment of substance abuse among young adults should consider targeting early maladaptive schemas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abuse of opioids is a serious and prevalent problem and research is needed on factors that may place individuals at risk for misusing opioids. Depression is a common co-morbid mental health problem among opioid users. Theory and research suggest that early maladaptive schemas may underlie mental health problems including depression and substance abuse. The current study sought to determine whether early maladaptive schemas were associated with depression among a treatment seeking sample of male and female opioid users ( n = 194). We also examined whether depression, as assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition, varied by gender and whether gender differences in depression remained after controlling for early maladaptive schemas. Results showed that women scored significantly higher than men on three of the five early maladaptive schema domains and that gender did not predict depression after controlling for schema domains. Early maladaptive schemas were also more strongly associated with depression for men than women. Implications of these findings for interventions and future research are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practicioner Message Individuals with opioid dependence have a number of early maladaptive schemas that may be contributing to the onset and maintenance of substance use., Although there are generally broad gender differences in major depression, findings from the current study suggest that early maladaptive schemas are a better predictor of depressive symptoms than gender among opioid dependent adults., The treatment of opioid dependence, with or without co-morbid depressive symptoms, should target early maladaptive schemas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The efficacy of batterer intervention programs to reduce intimate partner violence ( IPV) is questionable, with individuals with alcohol problems particularly unlikely to benefit. We examined whether adding adjunctive alcohol intervention to batterer intervention reduced the likelihood of substance use and violence relative to batterer intervention alone. Design Randomized clinical trial. Setting Batterer intervention programs in Rhode Island, USA. Participants A total of 252 hazardous drinking men in batterer intervention programs. Participants were randomized to receive 40 hours of standard batterer program ( SBP) or the SBP plus a 90-minute alcohol intervention ( SBP + BAI). None withdrew due to adverse effects. Data were collected at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up, with follow-up rates of 95, 89 and 82%, respectively. Measurements Substance use was measured with a well-validated calendar-assisted interview. Violence was measured with a validated questionnaire. Arrest records were obtained for all participants. The primary substance use outcome was drinks per drinking day ( DPDD) and the primary violence outcome was frequency of any physical IPV. Findings Relative to SBP alone, men receiving SBP + BAI reported consuming fewer DPDD at 3-month follow-up [ B = −1.36, 95% confidence interval ( CI): −2.65, −0.04, P = 0.04] but not 6- or 12-month follow-up. In secondary analyses, men receiving SBP + BAI reported significantly greater abstinence at 3- ( B = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.14, P = 0.002) and 6-month ( B = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.11, P = 0.01) follow-up but not 12-month follow-up. There were no significant differences in physical IPV between men receiving SBP and men receiving SBP + BAI. In secondary analyses, men receiving SBP + BAI reported less severe physical aggression at 3-month ( IRR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.65, P = 0.009) but not 6- or 12-month follow-up. Men receiving SBP + BAI reported less severe psychological aggression ( B = −1.24, 95% CI: −2.47, −0.02, P = 0.04) and fewer injuries to partners at 3- and 6-month follow-up ( IRR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.92, P = 0.03), with differences fading by 12 months. Conclusions Men with a history of intimate partner violence and hazardous drinking who received a batterer intervention plus an alcohol intervention showed improved alcohol and violence outcomes initially, but improvements faded by 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]