Direct and indirect associations between perception of childhood trauma and suicidal ideation through emotion dysregulation in males who use heroin.

Emotion dysregulation is considered as one of the factors related to suicide in individuals with childhood trauma (CT). However, no research has been performed on the role of emotion dysregulation in the relationship between perception of CT and suicidal ideation in individuals who use heroin. This study aimed to evaluate direct and indirect relationships between perception of CT and suicidal ideation through emotion regulation difficulties (ERD) and cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERSs) in males with a DSM diagnosis of heroin dependence. In a cross-sectional design, 310 males with a DSM diagnosis of heroin dependence completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short version (CERQ-Short), the Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale-Form Heroin (OCDUS-Form Heroin), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). The results revealed that perception of CT had no direct relation to suicidal ideation. Perception of CT was indirectly associated with suicidal ideation through some ERD dimensions [e.g., non-acceptance of emotional responses (Non-acceptance), limited access to emotion regulation strategies (Strategies), lack of emotional awareness (Awareness)] and the CERS of positive reappraisal. The findings suggest that high suicidal ideation may stem from a perception of CT and subsequently emotion dysregulation in individuals who use heroin. Also, the findings of this research may have implications for the prevention and treatment of suicidal ideation in individuals using heroin with a perception of CT. The results of the present study require further examination through longitudinal studies.

Effects of childhood emotional maltreatment on depressive symptoms through emotion dysregulation in treatment-seeking patients with heroin-dependence.

BACKGROUND: Although individuals who experience childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) are more likely to use maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, resulting in vulnerability to depression, no research has examined whether emotion dysregulation may explain the association between CEM and current depressive symptoms in a clinical sample of heroin-dependent individuals. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to assess the direct effect of CEM on current depressive symptoms and its indirect effect via emotion dysregulation in a treatment-seeking sample of males with heroin dependence. In a cross-sectional design, participants (N = 350) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale (OCDUS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). RESULTS: Emotional abuse and neglect severity had significant direct effects on current depressive symptoms and significant indirect effects through emotion dysregulation after controlling for clinical factors related to heroin use. LIMITATIONS: Study limitations include the cross-sectional design and use of self-report scales. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest emotion dysregulation may increase depressive symptoms in heroin users who experienced CEM. Training in emotion regulation strategies may decrease depressive symptoms in heroin-dependent individuals with CEM. Additional research with a longitudinal design to confirm these results is warranted.