Reward functioning in posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders

Anka A Vujanovic; Margaret C Wardle; Lia J Smith; Erin C Berenz

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.11.004

Reward functioning in posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders

Curr Opin Psychol. 2017 Apr:14:49-55. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.11.004. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Authors

Anka A Vujanovic¹, Margaret C Wardle², Lia J Smith³, Erin C Berenz⁴

Affiliations

¹ Trauma and Stress Studies Center, Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
³ Trauma and Stress Studies Center, Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Ivy Translational Research Building, 560 Ray C Hunt Drive, Box #800830, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.

PMID: 28813319
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.11.004

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are complex psychiatric conditions that commonly co-occur. Research on PTSD-SUD comorbidity has increasingly focused upon better understanding biopsychosocial factors that may contribute to their co-occurring etiology, maintenance, and treatment. Anhedonia, defined as a lack of pleasure from or interest in rewards, stems from deficits in reward functioning and is associated with specific neurocircuitries. Few studies have investigated the role of reward functioning in PTSD-SUD. The overarching aims of this review are to: define the major facets of reward functioning, summarize the research on reward functioning-PTSD and reward functioning-SUD, review the literature on associations between reward functioning and PTSD-SUD comorbidity, and discuss clinical implications and future directions.

Publication types

Review