CHARACTERISTICS OF COCAINE-ADDICTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ABUSE THEIR PARTNERS

The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of individu als entering treatment for cocaine dependence admitted to battering an intimate partner and to compare the characteristics of those who were not identified as batterers. Of the 77 men in the sample, 38% were ch aracterized as cocaine-dependent batterers. The batterers and nonbatte rers were found to differ on a variety of back ground and assessment v ariables. Cocaine-dependent batterers more often reported a history of serious conflict with their sexual partner trouble controlling violen t behavior, greater psychiatric disturbance, difficulty relaxing and b eing easily annoyed A summary of the findings as well as implications for future research are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.