Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.
Addict Behav. 2021 Mar;114:106754. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106754. Epub 2020 Dec 3.
Research shows that there has been a substantial increase in substance use and abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that substance use/abuse is a commonly reported way of coping with anxiety concerning COVID-19. Anxiety about COVID-19 is more than simply worry about infection. Research provides evidence of a COVID Stress Syndrome characterized by (1) worry about the dangers of COVID-19 and worry about coming into contact with coronavirus contaminated objects or surfaces, (2) worry about the personal socioeconomic impact of COVID-19, (3) xenophobic worries that foreigners are spreading COVID-19, (4) COVID-19-related traumatic stress symptoms (e.g., nightmares), and (5) COVID-19-related compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking. These form a network of interrelated nodes. Research also provides evidence of another constellation or "syndrome", characterized by (1) belief that one has robust physical health against COVID-19, (2) belief that the threat of COVID-19 has been exaggerated, and (3) disregard for social distancing. These also form a network of nodes known as a COVID-19 Disregard Syndrome. The present study, based on a population-representative sample of 3075 American and Canadian adults, sought to investigate how these syndromes are related to substance use and abuse. We found substantial COVID-19-related increases in alcohol and drug use. Network analyses indicated that although the two syndromes are negatively correlated with one another, they both have positive links to alcohol and drug abuse. More specifically, COVID-19-related traumatic stress symptoms and the tendency to disregard social distancing were both linked to substance abuse. Clinical and public health implications are discussed.
研究表明，在 COVID-19 大流行期间，物质使用和滥用的情况大幅增加，而且物质使用/滥用是应对 COVID-19 焦虑的一种常见方式。对 COVID-19 的焦虑不仅仅是对感染的担忧。研究提供了 COVID 应激综合征的证据，其特征包括：（1）对 COVID-19 危险的担忧，以及对接触冠状病毒污染的物体或表面的担忧；（2）对 COVID-19 个人社会经济影响的担忧；（3）对外国人传播 COVID-19 的恐惧；（4）与 COVID-19 相关的创伤后应激症状（例如，噩梦）；（5）与 COVID-19 相关的强迫性检查和寻求安慰。这些形成了一个相互关联的节点网络。研究还提供了另一种“综合征”的证据，其特征包括：（1）相信自己对 COVID-19 有强健的身体健康；（2）认为 COVID-19 的威胁被夸大了；（3）无视社交距离。这些也形成了一个被称为 COVID-19 无视综合征的节点网络。本研究基于对 3075 名美国和加拿大成年人的代表性样本，旨在调查这些综合征与物质使用和滥用的关系。我们发现，酒精和药物使用与 COVID-19 相关的大量增加。网络分析表明，尽管这两种综合征相互之间呈负相关，但它们都与酒精和药物滥用呈正相关。更具体地说，与 COVID-19 相关的创伤后应激症状和忽视社交距离的倾向都与物质滥用有关。讨论了临床和公共卫生的影响。
