The relationship between adult separation anxiety, anger rumination, emotional dysregulation and anxiety sensitivity in opioid and stimulant use disorder

In this study, we conducted an evaluation of the relationship between adult separation anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, difficulty in emotion regulation and anger rumination in patients who have completed detoxification treatment and diagnosed with opiate use disorder and stimulant use disorder according to DSM-V and to understand the factors that may cause difficulties in the treatment of addictions and to understand the factors that cause addiction. It is aimed to contribute to the development of treatment plans. Our research was carried out with a total of 30 participants, 15 patients with opioid use disorder and 15 patients with stimulant use disorder, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Male and Female Vırtanes Saatçi Inpatient Service and Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. Sociodemographic Information Form, Adult Separation Anxiety Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale and Reflection on Anger Rumination Scale were given to the participants. Percentage, frequency, mean, median and standard deviation were used in the analysis of descriptive data. The assumption of normality regarding the variables of the study was evaluated with box-line graphs, branch-leaf graphs, Q-Q graph and data on skewness and kurtosis. When the data were analyzed, non-parametric tests were preferred because the number of groups was less than 30 in the difference tests and the normality findings did not fit the normal distribution to a large extent. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between scale scores. Independent groups Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis H test were used in the analysis of demographic variables. Paired comparisons test with Bonferroni correction was used when comparing groups. Statistical evaluations were made using SPSS 25.0 IBM package program. According to the findings obtained as a result of the study, a strong and significant positive correlation was found between the Adult Separation Anxiety Scale and Anxiety Sensitivity Index scores of individuals diagnosed with opiate use disorder and stimulant use disorder. Individuals diagnosed with opiate and stimulant use disorder who have emotion regulation difficulty also had significantly higher anger rumination levels. It was observed that the sample with high Anxiety Sensitivity also had difficulties in emotion regulation. Similarly, the anger rumination level of the sample with high anxiety sensitivity was also found to be high. On the other hand, it has been determined that individuals diagnosed with Stimulant Use Disorder have higher Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale scores compared to individuals diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder. Therefore, with the limitations of the research, additional suggestions were made for future studies. In the context of these findings, it is thought that adding rehabilitation programs for the development of personalized anger and anxiety coping strategies to addiction treatments will contribute to the solution of problems related to addictions.