PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSOCIATED MENTAL-DISORDERS AMONG ALCOHOLIC INPATIENTS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the adult psyc hiatric correlates of childhood abuse among alcoholic inpatients. Meth od: The 802 patients, who included 321 women, were admitted to one of five New York State alcohol treatment inpatient centers. Each patient was interviewed and sexual and physical abuse history, DSM-III diagnos is, and other characteristics were recorded. Results: The overall prev alence of reported childhood abuse was 59% for women and 30% for men. Family history of alcoholism was associated with higher levels of phys ical and sexual abuse. Gender differences in types of childhood abuse (i.e., sexual abuse only, physical abuse only, dual abuse) were eviden t; 49% of the women and 12% of the men reported sexual abuse (with or without physical abuse), 33% of the women and 24% of the men reported physical abuse (with or without sexual abuse), and 23% of the women an d 5% of the men reported dual abuse. Abuse status, and especially dual abuse, was associated with higher rates of antisocial personality dis order and suicide attempts among women and men, with generalized anxie ty disorder among women, and with major depression among men. Conclusi ons: The findings highlight the long-term associations between sexual and physical abuse and adult coexisting mental disorders among alcohol ic inpatients. Addressing unresolved intrapsychic trauma associated wi th childhood abuse may increase the efficacy of treatment outcomes and reduce relapse rates among alcoholics.