PSYCHOSEXUAL FUNCTIONING IN OPIOID-DEPENDENT WOMEN

Psychosexual functioning of opioid-dependent women (N = 63) was compar ed to a socioeconomically similar group of non-drug-abusing women (N = 53) using the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). Initial analyses revealed differences in sexual drive, liberal attitude, and b oth masculine and feminine gender-role affiliation. When demographic d ifferences between the two groups were statistically controlled howeve r, only liberal attitude and femininity subscale differences remained significant. Although both opioid-dependent and comparison group women reported similar types of sexual experiences (lifetime), opioid-depen dent women reported greater recent reduction in sexual behaviors relat ed to anal intercourse and anal stimulation. Both opioid-dependent and clinic women differed significantly from the DSFI normative sample, h ighlighting the importance of controlling for demographic differences when using standardized psychological assessment tools. Implications o f study findings for AIDS prevention and intervention with drug-depend ent women are discussed.