Comorbidity Of Social Anxiety And Alcohol Use Disorder

The effects of anxiety/depression on alcohol-related problems mediated by DTC-anxiety only (Model 1), these effects mediated by DTC-depression

The Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (2002) states that substance abuse can occur in many clients who also have anxiety/stress disorders. The user believes that using alcohol or drugs will help lessen the feelings they have and somehow enable them to “cope” (The Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, 2002). Unfortunately, most users like James are unable to realize the substances are not helping their problems. Most people with alcohol and other drug use disorders who also suffer from other mental health disorders require an integrated care plan for the best chance at recovery (Sterling, Chi, & Hinman, 2011).

While consumption of alcohol is a socially acceptable practice in our society, issues arise when abuse occurs. Donatelle and Thompson (2011) define alcohol abuse as the "excessive consumption or a level of consumption that interferes with work, school, or social and family relationships" (256). As with other drug addictions, this abuse is disruptive to the alcohol abusers life as well as to those close to them. Moreover, alcohol abuse is accompanied by many devastating effects for all demographics. The harms associated with the misuse and abuse of alcohol includes: harm to oneself, negative effects on friendships and social life, and negative affects to physical

Substances, such as alcohol, are used for a variety of different reasons. Alcohol is often used as a way to celebrate a special occasion. It can also be used to help an individual “take the edge off” when he or she is feeling overwhelmed. Many individuals use alcohol when gathered with others in a social setting, while others may drink alcohol when spending time alone. The use of alcohol can become a problem when the individual begins to face challenges in his or her daily life. Some of these challenges can include increasing problems with emotional or physical health, the ability to maintain a steady job, and a steady withdrawal from family and friends.

In a research done by Brown, Vik, McQuoid, & Patterson, (1990). They examine the relationship between stressful life events, and drinking among 129 male alcoholics who had completed an alcohol treatment program. Studies found that men who returned to drinking after treatment, experienced more severe or highly threatening stress before their relapse, than men who remained abstinent during the follow-up period. This data suggests that although less severe stress may not increase risk for relapse, acute severe stressors and highly threatening chronic difficulties may be associated with elevated relapse risk. In another research done by Sinha et al., (2009) evidence indicates that regular and chronic alcohol use is associated with changes in emotion, stress, and motivational pathways. These

As an example, individuals suffering from an anxiety disorder may start using a substance (eg. alcohol or drugs) in an effort to decrease their distress. These substances produce positive, rewarding short-term effects to the individual (Stewart & Conrod, 2008). However, this has negative long-term effects and can result in alcohol dependence. Hall and colleagues (2009) found that people with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and substance use disorder had higher rates of alcohol and drug use in order to relieve symptoms of their anxiety, compared to those with only generalized anxiety disorder. In further support of this pathway, research has shown that 75% of the time an anxiety disorder is present in an individual before a substance use disorder develops (Smith & Book, 2008). However, Kushner, Krueger, Frye, and Peterson (2008) note that this does not demonstrate the anxiety disorder caused the comorbid substance use disorder in these 75% of cases, nor that the substance use disorder caused the anxiety disorder in the remaining 25%; it is merely a

The authors claimed that there was no correlation between alcohol abuse and anxiety disorder, however they argue that many other studies support this idea and that they sample of individuals addicted to alcohol is small. Such generalization makes the reader of the study question the researcher’s validity.

People drink in many ways, for many different reasons. We drink socially, to gain acceptance into a group. We drink alone to ease stress, to cope with our problems, or we “drink because we like the taste or how it makes us feel”#. Often drinking is a learned behavior, starting out as a social drinker; you quickly become psychologically and physically dependent. When someone reaches this stage they are often classified as an alcoholic. To an alcoholic, drinking becomes a compulsion; they cannot stop themselves from having another drink, like a social drinker can. In many cases alcoholics don’t even have to drink continuously in order to be an alcoholic. One the problems of alcohol addiction is that it’s something that doesn’t just effect the individual but it effects, friends and family as well. Spouse abuse, child abuse and dysfunctional family relationships can all be influenced by alcohol abuse.

Past researchers have found a strong correlation between social anxiety and heavy drinking. Those with excessive social anxiety, tend to be vulnerable to the abuse of alcohol (Burke and Stephens,

(American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2013) Social anxiety differs from generalized anxiety due to the fixating on the judgement of their peers and performance in a social setting. (APA, 2013) Buckner et al., 2008 described the co-morbidity of alcohol use disorders with social anxiety as “a unique risk factor; adolescents diagnosed with social anxiety disorder at baseline were 4.5 times more likely to meet alcohol dependent criteria 14 years later than individuals without social anxiety disorder.” (Ham et al., 2016) The high number of undergraduates diagnosed with SAD as well as the high prognosis of co-morbid alcohol related disorders argues the importance of determining the casual relationship. However, further research is needed to identify the impact of alcohol on the risk of the vulnerable group of SAD

Newspaper headlines and public heath reports continually remind us that many abuse alcohol. Despite its many associated consequences, such as: increased hospital admissions, deaths, road accidents and assaults; alcohol dependence remains a prominent issue in today’s society. But what causes alcohol dependence? This essay will critically discuss and compare two psychological theories of alcohol dependence, social learning theory and alcohol expectancy theory.

A study investigated the connection between alcohol expectancy and consumption and found that individuals who expected to have a high negative arousal after consumption ended up having more alcohol related problems than someone who expected to have a low negative arousal (Morean, Corbin & Treat, 2012). Although the study used various scales to examine how expectancies were related to alcohol consumption, it did not examine AmED

Coping motives involve drinking to avoid the experience of negative emotions such as depression or anxiety. This is the most potential mediator that lies between social anxiety and alcohol use. Several studies have found a significant positive relationship between these variables and a strong association with alcohol-related problems for high and moderate level of social anxiety (Ham et al., 2007; Martens et al., 2008; Clerkin & Barnett, 2012). Students, especially first year undergraduates, were among the most vulnerable group who often experience unpleasant feelings with their seniors and surroundings and able to drink more frequently to get rid of feeling depressed and stress (Lewis et al., 2008). In other word, it could refer to as drinking to cope with fear or stress, avoidance, or

Strahan, Panayiotou, Clements, and Scott (2011) were among the few who tested self-medication hypothesis in which the relationship between levels of social anxiety and patterns of alcohol consumption was examined. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Alcohol Outcome Expectancies Questionnaire (AOEQ) and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) were administered among 824 college students. Through the findings, Strahan et al. (2011) suggested that social interaction (as a result of drinking alcohol), negative emotions and negative physical symptoms were seen to be closely related to social anxiety (Strahan, Panayiotou, Clements, & Scott, 2011). Apart from that, the college students with high social anxiety had demonstrated

Dependency and the consequences on various areas of life (such as loss of a job, financial strain, and relationship problems) continue to increase the environmental stressors. The individual uses avoidant coping and resorts to alcohol as a way to reduce the stress. Further, diminished drinking refusal self - efficacy impacts the person’s ability to use self-regulatory mechanisms that non-dependent drinkers use to minimize their drinking temptations. Other factors such as family, co-morbid psychological problems and other negative psychosocial influences may also play a role in determining choice to drink alcohol either directly or through the moderating effects of the alcohol