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.com
Volume 8, Issue 5 (Suppl)
J Addict Res Ther, an open access journal
ISSN: 2155-6105
6
th
World Congress on
August 29-31, 2017 | Prague, Czech Republic
Addiction Disorder & Addiction Therapy
Addiction Congress 2017
August 29-31, 2017
Associations between separation anxiety and emotion dysregulation in a substance use disorder
population
Betül Akyel
and
Ebru Aldemir
Ege University, Turkey
S
ubstance use and addiction are responsible for numerous social and psychological problems worldwide. Children with
separation anxiety disorder demonstrate greater intensity and frequency of negative emotional responses. These children
had less ability in evaluating negative emotional situations andmore reliance in emotion regulation strategies, in turn increasing
the risk of functional impairment. Individuals with difficulty in emotion regulation can engage in addictive behaviors in order
to avoid or regulate negative feelings and emotions. The aim of this study is to evaluate separation anxiety and emotional
dysregulation and their interaction in patients with substance use disorder. 65 male patients, who were referred to Substance
Abuse Research and Treatment Center, with substance use disorders were included. Sociodemographic and substance use
characteristics were collected. They also fulfilled drug use disorder identification test, separation anxiety symptoms inventory
and difficulties of emotion regulation scale. The mean age was 27.6±7.6. 73.8% (n=48) of the patients were single, and 20%
(n=13) were married. The onset of regular substance use was at the age of 20.6±5.5. The most frequently used substance was
cannabis (n=36, 55.4%), followed by synthetic cannobinoids (n=13, 20%). Of all the participants, 11 (16.9%) had early parental
loss and 7 (10.8%) had a history of suicidal attempt. There was a moderate positive correlation between severity of substance
use and difficulties in emotion regulation (p<0.0001, r=0.437). Separation anxiety was moderately correlated with difficulties
in emotion regulation (p<0.0001, r=0.424). Additionally, separation anxiety was correlated with all sub-scales of difficulties
in emotion regulation (goals, strategies, non-acceptance, impulse, clarity, awareness). Regarding the results, addiction related
treatment programs should contain more specific emotion regulation and separation anxiety components.
Biography
Betül Akyel has been a Psychologist for five years. She completed her Master’s Degree Program on Substance Addiction and has been a PhD Student on
Substance Addiction Program at Ege University Institute on Drug Abuse, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science, Turkey. Her research interests are Addictive
Disorders, Neurocognitive Assessment and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.
akyel.betul@yahoo.comBetül Akyel et al., J Addict Res Ther 2017, 8:5 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2155-6105-C1-034