Reward functioning in posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders

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.