Sanjuan PM, Pearson MR, Poremba C, Amaro HdLA, Leeman L. (2019). An ecological momentary assessment study examining posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, prenatal bonding, and substance use among pregnant women. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 195:33-39. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.11.019
Researchers recruited 33 pregnant women who had experienced trauma to complete ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) three times per day for 28 days. Researchers sought to examine relationships between trauma, substance use, and prenatal bonding. Participants were given cellphones preinstalled with the EMA program and asked to select three times, one in the morning, afternoon, and evening, that they would be available to complete EMAs. EMAs assessed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology, prenatal bonding, and substance use since the last EMA. Participants also completed baseline assessments of PTSD symptomology, prenatal bonding, and substance use disorders (SUD). Almost half of participants (49%) met criteria for PTSD. Almost all participants (91%) reported an opioid use disorder and most (64%) reported a non-opioid SUD. Most participants reported at least one day of illicit drug use (65.6%) or smoking (71.9%) during the EMA period, with fewer participants reporting at least one day of alcohol use (18.7%). Among participants who reported illicit substance use, heroin (37.5%), cannabis (28.1%), and amphetamine use (18.7%) were most commonly reported. Elevated PTSD symptoms were related to same-day substance use, including significant correlations with daily illicit drug use, cannabis use, and smoking, with small to moderate effect sizes. Researchers concluded the results support elevated PTSD symptoms as a risk factor for same-day substance use in pregnant women who have experienced trauma.