An exploration of addiction in adults experiencing early-life stress: a metasynthesis

Abstract

Objective:to review and synthesize qualitative research on the links between early-life stress and addiction behaviours in adulthood. Method:metasynthesis to review qualitative research findings based on procedures that outline how to identify themes or constructs across studies in a specific area. Comprehensive searches of multiple electronic databases were performed. The initial search yielded 1050 articles and the titles and abstracts were screened for inclusion based on predetermined criteria. Thirty-eight full text, peer-reviewed articles were retrieved and assessed by three independent reviewers. Twelve articles were eligible for full review and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools. Results:the findings revealed that clear associations exist between early-life stress and addictive behaviours in adulthood, such as between trauma in childhood, violence, and addictive behaviours. A common theme in the findings indicates that participants turn to addictive substances as a way of strategically coping with stressful childhood experiences, regardless of the harmful side effects or detrimental social outcomes. Conclusion:it can be inferred that addiction may be viewed as a way to deal with adversity in childhood and that there is an interrelationship between addiction, domestic violence and crime.

COVID-19 Related Distress Is Associated With Alcohol Problems, Social Media and Food Addiction Symptoms: Insights From the Italian Experience During the Lockdown

“…Indeed, such disorders do not entail the use of illegal substances and are easily accessible during the lockdown. Research evidence concerning such phenomena would seem to be extendable to situations where traumatic events do not occur on a global scale (57), but at an individual level (58). Furthermore, the survey is based on an adequate sample size, across all regions of a country that has been strongly affected by COVID-19 infection, and the psychological pressure due to the spread of the infection has been considered in the statistical analyses.…”

Una Aproximación Fenomenológica a La Experiencia De Recaída en El Consumo De Alcohol en Personas Con Síntomas Disociativos Y Experiencias Traumáticas

“…Un elemento central en la comprensión del fenómeno de la recaída para efectos de este estudio se relacionó con la necesidad de modificar un estado emocional negativo ligado a la memoria traumática, lo que vendría a propiciar el inicio de la recaída. Este resultado condice con lo señalado en otras investigaciones que sostienen que la aparición de recuerdos de eventos calificados como potencialmente traumáticos está relacionado con la mantención de una conducta adictiva, así como también con una mayor predisposición a la recaída o a los eventos de sobredosis (Bastos et al, 2017;Mergler et al, 2017;Gielen et al, 2016).…”

“…Diversos estudios han relacionado el mantenimiento de un patrón de consumo problemático-dependiente de drogas con la presencia de eventos traumáticos en la vida de las personas, específicamente aquellos sucedidos en la infancia (Bastos et al, 2017;Gielen, Havermans, Tekelenburg y Jensen, 2012). Un estudio realizado por Konstenius et al (2017) con 1.274 pacientes adultos en tratamiento ambulatorio o con hospitalización por uso de sustancia, mostró una alta prevalencia en la comorbilidad de ambas categorías.…”

Negative consequences of early-life adversity on substance use as mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor modulation of serotonin activity

“…In humans, early-life adversity arising from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse correlates with an increased risk of substance use and other mental health disorders including anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia ( Espejo et al, 2007 ; Heim et al, 2008 ; Copeland et al, 2013 ; Merrick et al, 2017 ; Seidenfaden et al, 2017 ). Children exposed to early-life adversity through abuse and/or neglect also have increased risk of drug use, relapse following drug abstinence, and overall increased prevalence of substance use disorders during adulthood ( Messina et al, 2008 ; Van Dam et al, 2014 ; Teixeira et al, 2017 ). Adolescents from a family with a history of substance use disorders have an increased likelihood of experiencing more frequent and severe stressors, and initiation of substance use is indirectly influenced by stress exposure; indicative of a cycle of stress and substance use ( Charles et al, 2015a ; b ).…”