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Distress Tolerance as Risk and Maintenance Factor for PTSD: Empirical and Clinical Implications

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Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Distress tolerance is defined as the perceived or actual ability to tolerate negative or aversive emotional or physical states and is theoretically and clinically relevant to the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Distress tolerance is conceptualized as a risk or resilience factor and a clinical target for PTSD prevention or early intervention efforts. Empirical research has documented the significant negative (inverse) association between distress tolerance and PTSD symptoms among youth and adults exposed to potentially traumatizing events, although the bulk of the existing studies are limited by mostly cross-sectional methodologies and/or a focus on subclinical samples. This chapter provides a theoretical framework for understanding the potential role of distress tolerance in the context of exposure to trauma and reviews extant literature. Future work, utilizing varied methodologies and assessment tools and focusing upon varied populations, is needed to build upon this preliminary, potentially clinical meaningful empirical foundation.

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Abbreviations

BIRD:

Behavioral Indicator of Resiliency to Distress

CAPS:

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale

DBT:

Dialectical behavior therapy

DIS:

Discomfort Intolerance Scale

DTS:

Distress Tolerance Scale

PASAT-C:

Paced Auditory Serial-Addition Task-Computerized

PDS:

Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale

PLC:

PTSD Checklist

PTE:

Potentially traumatizing events

PTSD:

Posttraumatic stress disorder

SUD:

Substance use disorder

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1941 East Road, 77054, Houston, TX, USA

    Anka A. Vujanovic Ph.D.

  2. VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University, 46 Chestnut Square, 02130, Boston, MA, USA

    Brett T. Litz Ph.D.

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 126 Fred J. Heyne Building, Suite 104, 77204, Houston, TX, USA

    Samantha G. Farris M.A.

Authors
  1. Anka A. Vujanovic Ph.D.
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  2. Brett T. Litz Ph.D.
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  3. Samantha G. Farris M.A.
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Correspondence to Anka A. Vujanovic Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

  2. Kings College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Vujanovic, A.A., Litz, B.T., Farris, S.G. (2015). Distress Tolerance as Risk and Maintenance Factor for PTSD: Empirical and Clinical Implications. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_66-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_66-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08613-2

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