ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS SEQUELAE OF ABUSE AND CONDUCT DISORDER IN CHILDHOOD

Objectives: To examine in the Navajo population: (1) the importance of childhood abuse as a risk factor for conduct disorder; (2) the import ance of each form of abuse and conduct disorder as risk factors for al cohol dependence; and (3) the relative importance of each form of abus e, conduct disorder, and alcohol dependence as risk factors for being a perpetrator and/or victim of domestic violence. Method: The study is based on a case-control design, Cases (204 men and 148 women) between the ages of 21 and 65 were interviewed in alcohol treatment program a nd matched to community controls. There were two groups of controls: a lcohol dependent (374 men, 60 women) and nonalcohol dependent (157 men , 143 women). When adjusted for stratification by age, community of re sidence, and sex, the combined control groups comprise a representativ e sample of the Navajo male and female population 21-65 years of age. Results: The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse before age 15 is within limits observed in other populations. Each form of abuse is a r isk factor for conduct disorder. Along with conduct disorder, physical abuse is a risk factor for alcohol dependence. Physical abuse and alc ohol dependence are independent risk factors for being involved in dom estic violence as both perpetrator and victim. There appears to have b een no secular trend in the incidence of childhood abuse over the past several generations, but there is suggestive evidence that domestic v iolence has become more common. Conclusions: Physical abuse is a signi ficant risk factor for alcohol dependence as well as for domestic viol ence independent of the effects of alcohol abuse. The effects of sexua l abuse with regard to both domestic violence and alcohol dependence d o not appear to be significant. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.