[Emotion regulation and quality of life in consumption of cocaine and amphetamines : Results of an online survey].

BACKGROUND

The online study presented surveyed occasional users, high-risk users and non-consumers of psychotropic substances for relationships between consumer type and emotion regulation (ER), health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and coping strategies.

METHODS

A total of 199 people participated in the survey. The sample was split into three groups depending on a substance list and a detailed questionnaire regarding the consumption habits: 28 individuals had no illicit drug experience, 127 were occasional users and 44 frequent (high-risk) users. The sample set was tested using the (1) emotion regulation inventory, (2) the coping inventory for stressful situations and (3) the medical outcomes study (MOS) 36-item short-form health survey.

RESULTS

Regarding ER the occasional users showed no significant differences to the two reference groups, except for the scale of re-evaluation where the high-risk consumers scored higher than the occasional users. Regarding HRQOL no significant differences were observed between the three groups; however, significant differences were observed between persons with strong and weak physical and mental HRQOL scores and satisfaction with own emotion regulation. The search for predictors showed a significant predictive value for gender, the number of inhabitants at the place of residence and the ER strategy of re-evaluation in negative emotions for the allocation to a consumer type. Neither substance consumption as an ER strategy nor a relationship between consumer type and coping strategy and/or HRQOL could be observed.

DISCUSSION: With respect to ER the only significant difference observed was that of high-risk users employing the strategy of re-evaluation more often than occasional users. A possible explanation is reality embellishment and a down-playing function of this strategy associated with drug consumption. Therefore, the assumed relationship between affective dysfunction and drug addiction could not be observed.