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Table 2 Variables used to describe the methodological characteristics of the studies included in the systematic review

From: Relationship between interpersonal trauma exposure and addictive behaviors: a systematic review

Variable

Codes

Origin of the population studied

USA, Canada, Australia, Western Europe

Eastern Europe and Russia

Asia (without Russia)

Middle and South America

Africa

Type of population studied

Non-treatment seekers/general population

Non-treatment seekers/student population

Non-treatment seekers/other specific population (e.g., medical or military personnel)

Treatment seekers/seek treatment for trauma-related mental health issues (e.g., PTSD)

Treatment seekers/seek treatment for addiction(s)

Treatment seekers/seek treatment for both

Treatment seekers/seek treatment for other mental health issue

Treatment seekers/seek treatment for other medical reason (e.g., pregnancy)

Sex of the population studied

Male sample

Female sample

Mixed sample with sex stratification

Mixed sample without sex stratification

Sample size

Number of individuals for whom a trauma-addiction relationship was tested

Included target variables at baseline

Assessment included trauma but not addictive behavior

Assessment included addictive behavior but not trauma

Assessment included both

Included target variables at follow-up(s)

Assessment included trauma but not addictive behavior

Assessment included addictive behavior but not trauma

Assessment included both

Other (e.g., different compositions in different subsequent data waves, no clear description of included variables)

Addictive behaviors included

Alcohol

Nicotine

Marijuana

Cocaine

Opiates

Prescription medication

Other specific substance misuse

Substance misuse not specified (e.g., combined measurement of the misuse of several substances)

Gambling

Shopping

Exercise

Internet

Video games

Sex

Work

Food/eating

Other behavioral addiction or combination of several behavioral addictions

Approach to assess addictive behaviors

Continuous measurement (e.g., scale measuring symptom severity)

Dichotomous measurement (e.g., nicotine dependence exists or not)

Quality of measurement of the addictive behavior variable(s)

Single item

Multi item/ad hoc

Multi item/psychometrically tested (with exact name of tool)

Biological indicators (e.g., urine testing)

Interview or other method

Trauma type studied

Sexual abuse

Physical abuse

Other/directed towards the individual (e.g., emotional abuse, neglect, bullying)

Other/not directed towards the individual (e.g., witnessing serious violence, terror attack)

Any specific combination of the above

Cannot be determined (e.g., PTSD without any further specification)

Age at trauma onset

Childhood (<18 years)

Adult

Not specified age

Approach to assess trauma

Continuous measurement of events (e.g., number/frequency of assaults)

Dichotomous measurement of events (e.g., rape occurred or not)

Continuous measurement of symptoms (e.g., scale measuring PTSD symptom severity)

Dichotomous measurement of symptomatology (e.g., PTSD exists or not)

Time interval between trauma exposure and first assessment

In years

Quality of measurement of the trauma variable(s)

Single item

Multi item/ad hoc

Multi item/psychometrically tested (with exact name of tool)

Interview or other method

Dose-response relationship between trauma exposure and addictive symptoms

Dose-response relationship not tested

Dose-response relationship studied and found

Dose-response relationship tested but not found

Dose-response relationship tested but no clear conclusion (e.g., found in one subgroup but not in another)

Mediation between trauma and addiction

Mediators not tested

Psychosocial mediators tested

Biological mediators tested

Both psychosocial and biological mediators tested