Relation of physiological reactivity and perceived coping to substance use disorders

We examined the interaction between a form of subjective emotional reactivity (perceived coping) and physiological reactivity in relation to risk for substance use disorders. Skin conductance responses to unpredictable white noise blasts were collected from 110 men and women who also rated their perceived coping to the blasts and underwent semi-structured interviews to assess psychiatric symptoms. Reported inability to cope in conjunction with low skin conductance reactivity were related to higher symptom counts of alcohol and cannabis use disorders as well as antisocial personality disorder symptoms. The findings highlight the potential importance of the interface between cognitive/emotional and physiological processes as they relate to risk for substance use disorders and perhaps other externalizing disorders.